Iwakuma to pitch Friday, maybe for Mariners

NEW YORK -- After pitching four innings in his first Minor League rehab start on Sunday in Las Vegas for Triple-A Tacoma, All-Star right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma rejoined the Mariners on Tuesday and threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium.

Iwakuma is on schedule to pitch again on Friday, and the Mariners have an opening in their rotation that day in Houston, but they so far have not committed to bringing the 33-year-old off the disabled list to make that start.

Iwakuma, who missed the entire spring with a sprained tendon in his right middle finger, gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) in his four frames for Tacoma.

"I'm prepared to go Friday," Iwakuma said through translator Antony Suzuki. "They haven't told me anything yet, so we'll have to wait and see. But physically, a four-day rest would be good, as always."

Said manager Lloyd McClendon: "He'll pitch somewhere Friday. I'm not sure where yet."

McClendon said Sunday's rehab outing went about as expected for Iwakuma's first official game action after he threw several simulated outings against teammates.

"He threw OK; he got his pitch count up to 86, which is the most important thing," McClendon said. "His command was OK -- not great, but I didn't expect it to be. What I wanted was just him coming out feeling good and healthy from the outing, and we accomplished that."

Iwakuma said his command wasn't quite where it's needed yet, not surprising given the lengthy layoff.

"It was OK," Iwakuma said. "So-so; not 100 percent yet. It was my first game in a long time, and I was trying to get my feel back for the game. I need some more time, but it's going to be there."

The Mariners are tentatively listing Brandon Maurer for Saturday's game in Houston and Chris Young for Sunday, with a TBA for Friday's series opener.