SEATTLE -- Andrew Moore, the Mariners' most advanced pitching prospect, was called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday and will replace struggling veteran Yovani Gallardo in the rotation, with right-hander Christian Bergman optioned back to Tacoma.
Moore will make his Major League debut in Thursday's 7:10 p.m. PT game against the Tigers at Safeco Field, about five hours north of his hometown of Eugene, Ore.
"I grew up going to games here and now I'll be able to take the mound, which is awesome," Moore said. "I'm just ready to get out there."
Manager Scott Servais said his rotation for the remainder of the week will have Moore on Thursday, Felix Hernandez in his return from the disabled list on Friday against the Astros, followed by rookie Sam Gaviglio on Saturday and Ariel Miranda on Sunday to wrap up the Houston series.
"We're getting healthier and younger," Servais said. "Andrew Moore has been a very good performer and on our radar since Day 1. He's a high Draft pick and we really liked what we saw in Spring Training, so we're going to give him a shot."
Gallardo, who is 3-7 with a 6.30 ERA in 14 starts, will move for now to the bullpen.
Moore was not on the 40-man roster, so right-hander Tyler Cloyd was designated for assignment to open a spot for the 23-year-old from Oregon State.
Moore, the Mariners' No. 4-ranked prospect per MLBPipeline.com, has gone 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight starts for Tacoma and was 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA in six outings (five starts) with Double-A Arkansas to open the season.
Moore was selected by Seattle with a Competitive Balance Round B selection, the 72nd overall pick, in the 2015 Draft and has moved quickly through the Mariners' system. He was the club's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last year after going 12-4 with a 2.65 ERA while splitting time between Class A Advanced Bakersfield and Double-A Jackson.
Bergman, 29, went 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts) and helped fill the void over the past two months while the club was without injured starters Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, as well as James Paxton for a time. With Hernandez returning Friday, Bergman was the odd man out and will return to Tacoma to continue working as a starter.
Cloyd, 30, was added to the 40-man roster earlier this month when he was called up to briefly fill the long-relief role. He pitched in one game on June 9 against the Blue Jays, allowing two hits in a scoreless inning before being optioned back to Tacoma.
Cloyd, who hadn't pitched in the Majors since 2013, was signed out of independent ball in May and is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five starts with Tacoma.
Worth noting
• The Mariners are also expecting Iwakuma back before long, though his return has been pushed back. Initially expected to return Saturday, Iwakuma now is scheduled for a third rehab outing in Tacoma after lasting only two innings in his second Minor League appearance on Monday.
"No timetable yet," Servais said Wednesday. "We'll take it day to day and see how he feels coming in. He'll get out and probably throw a bullpen and go from there on when he'll start another rehab."
• Left-hander Drew Smyly, the club's other injured starter who has been sidelined since Spring Training with a strained elbow, said his Tuesday bullpen throwing session went very well and he's targeted to face live hitters now in a simulated situation Saturday.
"It'll be great to take that next step," said Smyly. "Everything is moving forward."