SEATTLE -- Lefty reliever James Pazos, one of just three relievers who'd been with the Mariners all season, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma as Seattle added Roenis Elias and Chasen Bradford to the pitching staff for Sunday's 12-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Elias was recalled from his rehab stint with Triple-A Tacoma to start Sunday's game and took the loss after allowing five runs in three innings. Bradford also was brought back from Tacoma and pitched three frames of relief and allowed three more runs (two earned).
The Mariners also optioned infielder James Beckham back to Tacoma prior to Sunday's series finale.
Pazos' departure is something of a surprise as he's one of just three relievers -- along with Edwin Diaz and Nick Vincent -- who have been with the Mariners since the start of the season. Pazos owns a 3-1 mark and a 2.68 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 10 walks in 40 1/3 innings over 49 appearances. He's tied for 10th in the American League with 17 holds.
But the big lefty had struggled for the past month, allowing 12 hits and nine runs (six earned) with five walks over nine innings in his last 13 appearances.
Manager Scott Servais said Pazos has been given a detailed throwing program to work on mechanical issues with the hope he can regain his fastball velocity and command and return in September to contribute for the stretch run.
"I thought through first couple months of the season, once Pazos got on a roll, he was really, really good," Servais said. "But over the last six weeks, he hasn't been as consistent with his fastball, and that's his trick. That's what he's got, a riding fastball that really plays well up in the zone.
"This is about getting him right mechanically. We really need him to be a big part of our bullpen and right now, he's just not. So let's take a step back, regroup and go from there."
With Elias starting his first game off the disabled list and having only pitched one-inning stints in his three Minor League rehab games while recovering from a strained left triceps, the Mariners need some length in the bullpen and Bradford should help there.
The 29-year-old is 5-0 with a 3.05 ERA over 44 1/3 innings this season, with 32 strikeouts and 9 walks. His 44 1/3 innings are second among Mariners relievers behind only Diaz's 61. In 11 outings of at least 1 1/3 innings pitched, he is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA, with 12 strikeouts and five walks in 22 frames.
Beckham had a pinch-hit single on Friday after being recalled from Tacoma prior to the game. He's hit .222 in 36 at-bats in 14 games with Seattle this season and .311/.411/.479 in 82 games with Tacoma.
Paxton on the mend
James Paxton, on the 10-day disabled list after getting nailed in the left forearm Tuesday in Oakland by a line drive, played catch at about 75 feet prior to Sunday's game and said everything went well.
"It felt good. No problems," Paxton said, estimating he threw at about 60-percent effort level. "There was no real stiffness or anything. Just a little achy, maybe. I think just getting the rest of the swelling out of there will help that and I think once we get the swelling out, it should be ready to go."

Paxton is expected to play catch again the next few days before getting back on the mound in a bullpen session and testing the arm with some breaking balls and more velocity. The lefty will miss at least one start this week and could come off the DL by Saturday in Arizona, though that seems unlikely.
"It's one of those things you have to work through," Servais said. "We certainly need him in the worst way. But I want him to be healthy and able to contribute when he gets back out there."
Felix back in rotation on Monday
After pitching one game in long relief after Paxton got knocked out of Tuesday's game, Felix Hernandez returns to the rotation in Monday's series opener against the Astros.
Given that Erasmo Ramirez only went five innings in a 10-inning win on Friday and Elias isn't stretched out to go very deep in Sunday's game, the Mariners need Hernandez to provide some length Monday.
"That's where we're at," Servais said. "With a bullpen day [with Elias], Pax being out, giving Marco Gonzales a couple extra days, Mike Leake has been hands-down our most-consistent guy probably throughout the whole year. Felix doesn't have to go out there and shut the world out, just go out and be competitive and throw the ball over the plate. That's the biggest thing."