SEATTLE -- After throwing a 25-pitch simulated inning on Saturday, Mariners left-hander Drew Smyly was expected to make a longer practice outing on Tuesday, before heading out to begin a Minor League rehab assignment. But those plans have been delayed, at least temporarily.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Smyly's two-inning simulated session for Tuesday was scratched after the lefty experienced a setback. No timetable has been set yet for the resumption of his throwing program.
The 28-year-old southpaw has yet to pitch for the Mariners after being acquired from the Rays in January to help bolster the rotation. Smyly looked sharp early in Spring Training, and then made a strong start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. But he experienced elbow issues after rejoining the Mariners, and has been sidelined since the final week of spring.
Manager Scott Servais said Smyly is "doing OK, kind of day to day right now."
But the setback is frustrating to Smyly, who had worked through the slow process of playing catch, throwing bullpens and facing live hitters for the first time on Saturday, after being completely shut down for the first six weeks of the season.
The Mariners have gotten a boost from the return of injured starters James Paxton and Felix Hernandez, but Smyly and right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma don't appear close to returning before the All-Star break.
Iwakuma was pulled off a Minor League rehab assignment after getting hit hard in an abbreviated two-inning outing for Triple-A Tacoma on June 19, and he continues to receive treatment and work on his throwing mechanics as he deals with soreness in his shoulder, which has sidelined him since May 3.
There is also no timetable for Iwakuma's return.
"I know he's still getting treatment and working his tail off, but I haven't heard anything different there," Servais said.
Worth noting
• Monday's off-day helped the Mariners regain two injured position players. Danny Valencia was cleared to play Tuesday after missing a pair of games with a sore right wrist. Left fielder Ben Gamel was also back after sitting out Sunday's game with lymph node infection in his groin.