SEATTLE -- The Mariners are halting Hisashi Iwakuma's rehab once again.
Manager Scott Servais said on Tuesday that the 36-year-old right-hander felt some discomfort in his shoulder while throwing a bullpen session on Saturday and received a cortisone and platelet rich plasma (PRP) shot after meeting with Mariners medical director E. Edward Khalfayan, M.D.
Iwakuma won't throw for at least a week because of the shots.
"I know he was disappointed it didn't feel better the last time out, but it is what it is," Servais said. "You have to listen to your body, and [he] didn't feel great, so that's where he's at right now."
Iwakuma, who's been out since May 3 with inflammation in the right shoulder, made two rehab starts in his recovery process, but his most recent outing yielded discouraging results, as he allowed four runs on four hits and walked two over two innings while pitching for Triple-A Tacoma on June 19. The poor outing forced the Mariners to reassess Iwakuma's recovery, and they decided to give him extra time to get his shoulder healthy and refine his mechanics.
There hasn't been any progress since, which Iwakuma said was frustrating, but he's confident he'll be back at 100 percent at some point this season.
"It's a lot longer than I was expecting, and it's disappointing, but it is what it is," Iwakuma said through interpreter Antony Suzuki. "You kind of just have to take it day-by-day.
"You just have to be patient with the situation, and you have to believe the situation will get better and take one day at a time. Rehab, treatment and any type of training that I can do in the weight room -- just keeping my body sharp and just kind of going from there."
Worth noting
Nelson Cruz returned Tuesday after missing two starts with a sore right knee he suffered on Saturday against the Angels while sliding awkwardly at second base while attempting to stretch a single into a double.
Cruz's appearance on the Mariners' lineup card doesn't come as much of surprise, as he unexpectedly pinched hit for Boog Powell in the seventh inning of the Mariners 3-1 loss to the Royals on Monday after Servais had said earlier that Cruz would be unavailable. The slugger struck out on three pitches in the at-bat.
"I didn't know if he'd be available or not, and quite frankly was surprised that he was going to be available to pinch-hit halfway through the game [Monday]," Servais said. "They found something to free up some of the pain, and he felt good. Felt good in the cage and he's ready to go today."