Mariners notebook: Doubleheader edition, sort of

PEORIA, Ariz. – The Mariners did not schedule any B-games this spring but we have had a number of sim/intrasquad games.

Felix Hernandez threw a sim game Sunday, hours before Roenis Elias got the Cactus League start in the main stadium against the Dodgers. Today it’s James Paxton, Tom Wilhelmsen and Fernando Rodney throwing on Field 2 at 10:45 a.m., while Hisashi Iwakuma, who made his last start on a back-field sim game, will take the ball at Camelback Ranch against the White Sox. In other words, another busy day in Peoria.

Paxton is making his first “start” since injuring his forearm in a fall in agility drills. Lloyd McClendon is counting this as one of the four starts Paxton should be able to get in before the end of camp. By all indications he should be ready to go Opening Day, and my best guess is we will see him pitch Game 2 of the regular season. Today he is scheduled to throw three innings, 45 pitches.

Lineup! vs. White Sox

Jones 8
Smith 9
Cano 4
Seager 5
Morrison 3
Zunino 2
Ackley 7
Miller 6
Montero DH

Iwakuma

Iwakuma is scheduled to throw four innings, around 60 pitches. Pitchers who could be seen in relief include Yoervis Medina, Joe Saunders, Kevin Correia, Perez, Charlie Furbush and Lucas Luetge. The game is not on television and will be delayed on 710 ESPN Seattle.

Notes

• For Tacoma Rain, I asked for a progress report on Edgar Olmos, who was returned to the Mariners from the Rangers with a shoulder impingement. According to manager Lloyd McClendon, Olmos is making good progress and is expected to begin throwing from flat ground on Monday.

• Expect to see Rickie Weeks start to get some reps at first base. His primary position will be left field, which he is still learning, but Lloyd McClendon would like to see him at first a few times before the end of camp.

• Upcoming pitching probables: Wednesday vs. Oakland, Erasmo Ramirez; Thursday vs. Cleveland, Taijuan Walker; Friday at Texas, Roenis Elias; Saturday at Chicago Cubs, Felix Hernandez.

• Taking a look at the updated Cactus League stats, the line that jumps out to me the most (in a good way) is Mike Zunino’s. Six games, 14 at-bats, .429/.500/.714/1.214. Yes, I know – spring training numbers, small sample size. What’s most encouraging is that in those games Zunino has had exactly one strikeout. Progress?

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