SAN DIEGO -- After missing more than two weeks with a left forearm contusion, James Paxton will make his return to the Mariners' rotation Saturday against the A's.
Paxton has been sidelined since Aug. 14, when he took a line drive off his pitching arm in the first inning during a start in Oakland. Jed Lowrie lined a 96 mph comebacker back at Paxton, who left the game immediately after being hit. Now, Paxton will return in hopes of shortening the gap between the Mariners and A's -- Seattle opened play Wednesday 5 1/2 games back from Oakland for the second American League Wild Card spot.
"Pax is on schedule," manager Scott Servais said. "Bullpens, everything has been really good. He'll pitch on Saturday and he should be 100 percent good to go."
With Paxton returning to the rotation, the Mariners have now solidified their rotation for their crucial series vs. the A's in Oakland starting Thursday. Wade LeBlanc will take the opener, followed by Mike Leake, Paxton and Felix Hernandez. Marco Gonzales remains on the disabled list with a cervical neck strain, but he is hopeful to miss minimal time.
This was Paxton's second stint on the disabled list -- he missed two weeks in July with lower back stiffness. Before the injury this month, Paxton had notched at least seven innings of work in two of his last three appearances and allowed seven runs total in that timeframe. His 3.68 ERA is the lowest of Seattle's starters.