Seattle Mariners Friday: Top 5 at 5

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Sep 18, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Seattle Mariners pitching coach

Carl Willis

(48) talks to starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma (18) against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kuma’s (Final) Rehab Stint

Hisashi Iwakuma, the Prince to Felix Hernandez‘s King, is set to start on Sunday for the Rainiers. If all goes well– my fingers have been crossed since March– he could be with the team, pitching his first Major League game of the season in New York against the Yankees on Friday.

After injuring the middle finger on his throwing hand in January, Iwakuma has been coming along slowly as the finger healed.

But now that he has thrown with tennis balls, had bullpen sessions, and thrown simulated games, it’s time for the rehab start.

And after the rehab, hopefully a start for a team so desperately in need of his pitching prowess.

Keep an eye on the Rainiers stat tracker on Sunday. If Iwakuma gets through the game without any major hiccups or injury setbacks, he should be back in a Mariners uniform before the end of next week.