Mariners notebook: Joaquin Benoit to jump right back in 8th-inning mix

BALTIMORE – The Mariners head into the three-game series against the Orioles a little better armed than the previous 3three weeks as Joaquin Benoit has been activated.

Last week we saw the pen surrender 10 runs in 15 1/3 innings. We saw five home runs given up by the relievers and three saves blown by closer Steve Cishek. While the return of Benoit is not a cure-all, it is help. Benoit will be put back in the eighth-inning mix, where we have seen Joel Peralta get the majority of the leverage innings while he was out.

“We will look at the matchups, how they play, how he is feeling, usage of other guys; it just shuffles guys down a bit,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “You have to keep in mind Benoit is not going to go out and pitch three, four days in a row. That’s not going to happen. He is going to need some time to get his legs and get his arm underneath him and build from there.”

To make room for Benoit, Mayckol Guaipe was optioned to Tacoma.

Notes

• It rained steadily throughout the day in Baltimore and with the tarp on the field until 6 p.m. EST, neither team took batting practice. Rain is in the forecast here tomorrow and then again Friday and Saturday in Cincinnati. With the possibility of delays, Servais said that he would not consider starting a reliever and then going to the starter after the delay as some managers have done in the past.

• ICYMI: There are some good things going on down on the farm for the Mariners, and then there is the May that Mike Zunino is having. Check out the post to see why this is not a bad thing, and in fact his struggle is important.

• Here is the lineup for Tuesday’s game.