Felix Hernandez Will Start Wednesday

Aug 11, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) walks off the field after the 8th inning of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Safeco Field. The Mariners won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

When the Mariners called up James Paxton from Triple-A Tacoma, they announced that the team would be going with a 6-man rotation for the rest of the season.  That was going to allow Felix another day of rest. Now, the club has decided to give him a total of eight days of rest leading up to his next start Wednesday against Houston.

Some would speculate that this means Felix’s cramp was a little more serious than we are led to believe. However, subsequent medical observation determined that it was merely a cramp sustained on a hot day.

So, Erasmo Ramirez will get the start Sunday as the Mariners look for the rare sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays. After Sunday, the rotation for the upcoming series looks like this.

Monday: Jarred Cosart (1-1, 2.13) vs. Taijuan Walker (1-0, 3.60)

Tuesday: Jordan Lyles (6-7, 5.08) vs. Joe Saunders (11-13, 4.95)

Wednesday: Brad Peacock (4-5, 5.62) vs. Felix Hernandez (12-9, 3.01)

Rookie shines in MLB debut, hours after learning of death in the family

Just 12 hours after learning that his grandfather had passed away in nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, James Paxton allowed only four hits and one earned run in six innings of work in his Major League debut Saturday night.

Greg Johns of MLB.com has a great piece here on the debut. I think Mariners fans will be excited at the promise Paxton brings to the future. But keep in mind, he struggled in Tacoma with an 8-11 record and a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts. It was a great debut, riding an emotional high. Let’s get a few more starts out of him before we get too high on him.

LaFromboise rejoins Mariners

The Mariners made another move on Saturday, recalling RP Bobby LaFromboise from Triple-A Tacoma. The lefty was 6-0 with a 3.39 ERA and 5 saves in 45 games in Tacoma. In his first stay with the M’s this year, LaFromboise was perfect in two appearances against Houston and Texas (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) before losing it against Detroit on April 16 (IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB).

Two days later, LaFromboise was sent back to Tacoma where he remained until July 12. His first and only appearance came July 21 when he allowed three hits and four runs in 0.1 IP to Houston. He was sent back to Tacoma two days later. We’ll see which LaFromboise we get this time.