SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced the following roster move prior to tonight's (7:10 pm PT) game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals:
LeBlanc (#35), Roach (#63) and Rollins (#59) will be in uniform and available for tonight's game (7:10 pm PT) vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
LeBlanc is tonight's scheduled starting pitcher for Seattle.
The Mariners Major League, 40-man roster is full at 40 players.
LeBlanc, 31, was acquired on Wednesday (June 22) from Toronto in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. LeBlanc was 7-2 with a 1.71 ERA (17 ER, 89.2 IP) in 14 starts, including 12 quality starts with AAA Buffalo (TOR) this season. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound lefty has limited opponents to a .246 (84x342) average, while walking 21 and striking out 85. At the time when he was acquired (stats thru 6/21), LeBlanc led the International League in ERA (1.71) and innings pitched (89.2), while also ranking among the league leaders in wins (2^nd, 7) and strikeouts (T3rd, 85). Over his last 9 starts, dating back to May 7, LeBlanc is 5-1 with a 1.20 ERA (8 ER, 60.0 IP) with 15 walks and 56 strikeouts. He set season-highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts on June 14 vs. Durham (8.0,5,1,0,2,11). LeBlanc signed with the Blue Jays as a minor league free agent on Dec. 18, 2015.
LeBlanc is a veteran of 7 Major League seasons with San Diego (2008-11), Miami (2012-13), Houston (2013), Los Angeles-AL (2014) and New York-AL (2014). He has a combined record of 21-33 with a 4.47 ERA (222 ER, 446.2 IP) in 107 games, 71 starts. The Lake Charles, LA native was originally selected by San Diego Padres in the 2nd round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Alabama. He made his Major League debut with the Padres on Sept. 3, 2008 at Los Angeles-NL (4.0,8,5,5,3,1,HR-2).
Roach, 26, was 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA (39 ER, 82.1 IP) in 14 starts, including 7 quality starts with AAA Tacoma this season. The 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed pitcher has allowed 90 hits in 82.1 innings, while walking 15 and striking out 46. Over his last 8 starts, dating back to May 13, Roach is 2-2 with a 2.04 ERA (12 ER, 53.0 IP). During this stretch, among qualifying pitchers in the PCL, he ranks T2^nd in innings pitched (53.0), 4^th in ERA (2.04), 5^th in WHIP (0.98), T7^th in strikeouts (37) and 8^th in average (.223). In his last start on June 19, Roach tied his career-high tossing 8.0 innings (also: 5/3/15 vs. Oklahoma City w/Iowa) in a Rainiers 12.0-inning 1-0 win over Fresno. Overall he allowed 4 hits and struck out 4 in a no decision over 8.0 shutout innings. Roach signed as a minor league free agent with Seattle on Dec. 5, 2015.
Roach was originally selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 3rd round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona. He made Major League debut with San Diego in 2014 and is 1-1 with a 5.35 ERA (20 ER, 33.2 IP) in 17 games, 2 starts over parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues combined between the Padres (2014) and Chicago-NL (2015). Over 7 minor league seasons, he is 45-36 with a 2 saves and a 3.71 ERA (278 ER, 674.2 IP) in 165 games, 104 career starts with the Angels, Padres, Cubs, Reds, Blue Jays and Mariners organizations.
Rollins, 26, was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA (7 ER, 30.2 IP) with 26 strikeouts and 1 walk in 24 games with Tacoma this season, all in relief. In 11 road appearances with Tacoma this season, Rollins was 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA (1 ER, 12.2 IP). Overall, he has allowed earned runs in just 5 of his 22 appearances with Tacoma, and has allowed more than 1 run just once.
Rollins appeared in one game with Seattle earlier this season, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings on June 17 at Boston, before being optioned to AAA Tacoma on June 18. Since being optioned to Tacoma, Rollins made two appearances, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings each time.
Wilhelmsen, 32, was signed to a Major League contract and added to the 25-man roster on Wednesday (June 22). Since being added to the 25-man roster on June 22, Wilhelmsen appeared in one game, tossing a shutout inning (1 H). In 21 appearances with Texas this season, Wilhelmsen was 2-3 with a 10.55 ERA (25 ER, 21.1 IP) with 11 strikeouts. Wilhelmsen declined an outright assignment from Texas and was granted free agency on June 16. Wilhelmsen was traded by Seattle to Texas, along with OF James Jones and INF Patrick Kivlehan, in exchange for OF Leonys Martin and RHP Anthony Bass on Nov. 16, 2015.
Sampson, 24, was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA (4 ER, 4.2 IP) in 1 start, after being selected from AAA Tacoma on June 18. Sampson was scheduled to be yesterday's starting pitcher, but was replaced after feeling discomfort in his right elbow while warming up for the first inning. Sampson made his Major League debut on June 18 at Boston, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits while striking out 2 and walking 1 over 4.2 innings pitched. With his debut, Sampson, a native of Redmond, WA, became the pitcher born in the state of Washington to make at least 1 start for Seattle. Prior to being selected, Sampson was 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA (29 ER, 80.1 IP) with 61 strikeouts and 12 walks in 13 starts with AAA Tacoma this season.
Zych, 25, was 1-0 with 3.00 ERA (4 ER, 12.0 IP) with 19 strikeouts in 10 games this season before being placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3. Zych is eligible to be activated from the 60-day disabled list on July 1.