The Seattle Mariners have pitching help on the way; right-hander George Kirby is slotted to return and make his season debut on Thursday in the opener against the Houston Astros.
The Mariners are currently 27-20, good enough for first place in the American League West.
They rank sixth in Major League Baseball for home runs and 11th in team OPS, but their bread and butter is the starting rotation.
Former All-Stars Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo anchor the studded rotation, and Seattle is getting their other former All-Star back after being placed on the injured list on March 24 with right shoulder inflammation.
This is huge for the Mariners, as they have been without Gilbert for several weeks due to a flexor strain in his right elbow.
Kirby, 27, started 33 games last season and went 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA. Thirty-three starts tied for the most in MLB.
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Kirby only made one appearance in spring training prior to being placed on the injured list. He made three rehab starts, and while the numbers didn’t look great, Seattle just needed to see that he was healthy.
In 10.0 innings of work, he had a 7.20 ERA with 13 strikeouts and a 1.70 WHIP for Triple-A Tacoma. He is expected to throw between 75 and 80 pitches in his first start.
The Mariners currently have a two-and-a-half game lead on the second place Astros, who they play next in a four-game series.
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