SEATTLE -- Manager Scott Servais set the tentative rotation for the Mariners to open the second half, as Mike Leake, Wade LeBlanc and Yusei Kikuchi will pitch the first three games in Anaheim next Friday through Sunday following the All-Star break.

After a Monday off-day, Marco Gonzales and Tommy Milone will pitch the Tuesday and Wednesday games in Oakland before the Mariners open a 10-game homestand on July 19.

Servais said they’ll likely stick with an opener in games with LeBlanc and Milone.

Leake and Gonzales have both thrown 114 2/3 innings to date, putting them on pace for 196 for the full season. Servais said the only workload issue in the second half will likely be limiting the innings for Kikuchi, as has been planned since he signed with the club out of Japan, where pitchers only start once a week.

Kikuchi has thrown 98 1/3 innings and is on pace for 167 on the season, which is similar to what he threw for the Seibu Lions in 23 starts last year in Japan. He threw 187 2/3 innings in 26 starts for Seibu in 2017.

Altavilla avoids worst scenario with elbow

For Dan Altavilla, a difficult season that appeared on the cusp of turning around took a tough hit when he strained the flexor mass in his right elbow on the final pitch of his outing on Friday for the Mariners.

But the hard-throwing 26-year-old said Sunday he’s relieved after an MRI test indicated no damage as feared to his ulnar collateral ligament.

Instead of Tommy John surgery and a year and a half of recovery, Altavilla is looking at a month or two of rehab and a possible return before the end of the season, if all works out.

After being demoted to Double-A Arkansas at one point, Altavilla worked on his mechanics and cleared up his delivery to the point where he was hitting 98-99 mph on the radar gun again in his last few outings with the Mariners, looking much like the promising youngster who debuted with Seattle back in 2016 and posted a 2.61 ERA last year in 22 appearances.

This spring, Altavilla was expected to be one of the cornerstones of a rebuilding bullpen, but instead got sent down to Triple-A Tacoma, struggled there as well and didn’t find answers until posting a 1.10 ERA in 14 appearances for Arkansas.

He appeared close to returning to a more prominent role in the Mariners 'pen upon being recalled in late June, throwing four strong outings before his ill-fated finale on Friday, when he walked two and allowed a pair of runs in the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss, then felt a twinge in his elbow on his final pitch.

“With everything that happened this year, I worked so hard to get back and finally was throwing the ball well,” he said. “It sucks. But I’m going to stay really positive about it. I feel really good about where I’m at with my mechanics and how I was throwing the ball, so I think it’s going to be a quick adjustment to get back once I’m healthy again.”

Worth noting

• Reliever Sam Tuivailala threw a scoreless inning for the second straight night for Double-A Arkansas on Saturday, and is close to being ready to rejoin the Mariners after working back all season from Achilles tendon surgery and an ensuing arm issue.

Servais said Tuivailala could rejoin the Mariners after the All-Star break, possibly on the first road trip or the following homestand.

• Veteran reliever Hunter Strickland will accompany the Mariners on their road trip following the break, as he’s getting closer to returning from a strained right lat that has sidelined him since late March. Strickland threw a strong 20-pitch bullpen on Saturday. He’ll throw another on the road trip, then a live batting practice before heading out on a Minor League rehab assignment.

• Félix Hernández is a little behind Strickland in the recovery process from his own lat strain, but he threw about 10 easy pitches off the bullpen mound on Saturday without issue, and will advance to a full bullpen workout following the All-Star break.

• Outfielders Mitch Haniger (ruptured testicle) and Braden Bishop (lacerated spleen) both are awaiting doctor visits following the break before being cleared to resume any kind of baseball activity. Servais said there’s no timetable on their potential returns until they get cleared by the doctor.

• After being designated for assignment earlier in the week, right-handed reliever Mike Wright cleared waivers and accepted an outright to Tacoma on Sunday