Ichiro, Segura expect to return to action soon

March 16th, 2018

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners are not worried about and .
Ichiro left Wednesday's game in the first inning because of a tight right calf and Segura exited in the third inning with right hamstring tightness as a precautionary measure.
"They are not going to play for a couple of days and there's no doubt about that," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "We'll back off. It may be hard for Ichiro to sit down a couple of days. I heard he woke up this morning and felt a lot better and he should be fine."
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The Mariners will be patient with Ichiro. They want him healthy for Opening Day.
"When [starting left fielder] Ben Gamel went down and we acquired Ichiro, he was brought in and he was going to play," Servais said. "I think you look at his track record. I think from an evaluation standpoint, I'm not sure what I am going to do there. I think you make a decision organizationally. 'This is where we are going to go.' I fully expect Ichiro to be in the lineup here within the next few days and he'll continue to work toward getting ready for Opening Day. "
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Ichiro is hitless in five at-bats in three Cactus League games. Segura has nine hits in 27 at-bats with two home runs and seven RBIs. He's also stolen two bases.
More injury news
(bruised right forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday and could pitch in a Minor League game next week.
"I thought [Hernandez's] bullpen the other day was great," Servais said. "I expect the same type of intensity, and this time throwing all of his pitches. Felix is very focused right now. He wants to get out there by Opening Day. We will see how it goes here with the bullpen and then his first time out in a game. We will make evaluations as we move along with that."
(right hand contusion) remains on track to pitch in his scheduled start Saturday against the A's. He threw a bullpen session Thursday.
(right hand) is making progress and is expected to return to game action this weekend.
Camp battles
's quest to win the final spot in the starting rotation continued Thursday night against the A's, when he gave up two runs on five hits in four innings in his fourth appearance of spring. He walked one and struck out four.
In his previous three appearances, the left-handed pitcher allowed four earned runs on 10 hits in eight innings in Cactus League play, walking five and striking out eight.
is also competing for the job. However, the Mariners might not need a fifth starter until mid-April because of their schedule.
Worth noting
The Mariners scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning, highlighted by 's two-out grand slam.

Motter, who played every position but pitcher, center field and catcher last season, is battling for a spot on the club's 25-man roster. He started at second base and finished 2-for-4 Thursday. Overall, he has 14 hits in his first 16 Cactus League games.
Up next
The Mariners will send Mike Leake to the mound against the Rangers on Friday in Surprise at 1:05 p.m. PT. , , and are also scheduled to pitch. Follow the action on Gameday.