Mariners Analysis: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

May 20, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Roenis Elias (29) pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Roenis Elias

Elias was called up from Triple A a couple weeks back, and it seems like he has taken it upon himself to make sure he isn’t headed back to Tacoma anytime soon. Against the Orioles this past week, he pitched an absolute gem, going 7 2/3 innings of six hit baseball while allowing just one run and striking out four. An even better sign is the fact that he didn’t give up a single free pass to any of the Orioles’ batters.

How Elias has pitched for the Mariners is incredibly impressive, especially when you consider he could’ve been down on himself when he didn’t make the Mariners’ roster coming out of the spring. But with Hisashi Iwakuma on the DL, the Mariners needed someone to step up and Elias has been that guy. When Iwakuma comes back (and it is looking more and more like that won’t be anytime soon as he has been shut down) expect Elias to stay. He has done what he has needed to and more.

I have as much faith in the young southpaw as anyone in this pitching rotation not named Felix Hernandez, and he has been a true Godsend to this rotation. If things stay the same, once Iwakuma comes back, expect Walker to make his way down to Triple A, and Elias to take a strangle hold on the 5^th and final spot in the rotation.

Next: Danny Farquhar