Marinershome.com | Seattle Mariners News, mariners Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> The Mariners will make their first roster move midweek when RF Ichiro Suzuki comes off the disabled list. When that happens, Ichiro will become the leadoff hitter and LF Endy Chavez, who had a huge first week as the leadoff man, will be moved around or will sit on the bench as manager Don Wakamatsu tries to juggle his lineup to find playing time for Chavez, LF/DH Ken Griffey Jr. and DH Mike Sweeney.</div>PLAYER NEWS: --LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith went on the disabled list unexpectedly before Wednesday's game. Rowland-Smith, who was supposed to start Thursday's series finale with the Angels, came down with triceps tendinitis while throwing in the bullpen. He didn't have full range of motion with his left arm. As a result, the Mariners will turn to rookie RHP Chris Jakubauskas to start Thursday. "I felt good in my first start," Rowland-Smith said, "but a couple of days later I had some stiffness. I thought it was normal and would go away overnight. Instead I woke up the next morning with my range of motion really restricted." --RHP Chris Jakubauskas, who'd only pitched in a dozen Class AAA games before the 2009 season, will be the starting pitcher Thursday for Seattle, replacing injured LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith. Jakubauskas, who made the team this spring as a non-roster pitcher, is a former independent league player who didn't take up pitching until turning pro. He was a first baseman and outfielder in college. "Mentally I came to spring training just to do my best and show them what I could do," Jakubauskas said after getting the news. "This is a big day, but mostly I'm concerned about Row. We need him to be healthy and pitching." --3B Matt Tuiasosopo was expected to get sent down Wednesday as the Mariners activated RF Ichiro Suzuki from the disabled list. Instead, the Mariners put LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith on the disabled list and left Tuiasosopo on the roster. However, the club will need someone to take over in the bullpen for RHP Chris Jakubauskas, who will take Rowland-Smith's spot in the rotation, so it's likely Tuiasosopo, who has yet to play in a game, will return to Class AAA Tacoma before too much longer. --C Kenji Johjima pulled up running from first to third on a double by SS Yuniesky Betancourt in the fourth inning and was replaced by rookie C Rob Johnson. Johjima was diagnosed with right hamstring tightness. He will be re-evaluated Thursday morning. --LF Endy Chavez singled in the third inning and homered in the fifth, extending his hitting streak to nine games, tying his career high. Wednesday was the first time this season he'd been second in the batting order. He was the leadoff man until RF Ichiro Suzuki returned from the disabled list for Wednesday's game. --DH Ken Griffey Jr.'s solo home run in the fifth inning followed one by LF Endy Chavez to give Seattle its first back-to-back homers of the year. For Griffey, the home run was his 400th as a Mariner, 398 of which were hit during his first stretch with the team from 1989-99. Griffey becomes the first major league player with 400 homers for one team and 200 for another, having hit 210 for the Cincinnati Reds from 2000-08. MEDICAL WATCH: RF Ichiro Suzuki (bleeding ulcer, excessive fatigue) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He appeared in an extended spring training game on April 9 and a minor league intrasquad game April 10. He was activated April 15. C Kenji Johjima (right hamstring tightness) left the April 15 game. He will be re-evaluated April 16. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (triceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11. He is not expected to be sidelined long-term. OF Wladimir Balentien (sprained left wrist) was hurt April 11, and he didn't play April 12-15. He is day-to-day. LHP Cesar Jimenez (biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29. LHP Ryan Feierabend (Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16. LHP Tyler Johnson (left shoulder surgery in May 2008) started the season in the minors. He is attempting to rebuild his strength. RHP Chad Cordero (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) signed a minor league deal with the Mariners during the spring, and he wasn't ready for opening day. He could return in May, however, and then would be a competitor for the closer's job. ROTATION: RHP Felix Hernandez LHP Erik Bedard RHP Carlos Silva LHP Jarrod Washburn RHP Chris Jakubauskas BULLPEN: RHP Brandon Morrow (closer) RHP Miguel Batista RHP Roy Corcoran RHP Mark Lowe RHP David Aardsma RHP Shawn Kelley CATCHERS: Kenji Johjima Rob Johnson INFIELDERS: 1B Russell Branyan 2B Jose Lopez SS Yuniesky Betancourt 3B Adrian Beltre INF Mike Sweeney INF Ronny Cedeno INF Matt Tuiasosopo OUTFIELDERS: LF Endy Chavez CF Franklin Gutierrez RF Ichiro Suzuki DH Ken Griffey Jr. OF Wladimir Balentien

The Mariners will make their first roster move midweek when RF Ichiro Suzuki comes off the disabled list. When that happens, Ichiro will become the leadoff hitter and LF Endy Chavez, who had a huge first week as the leadoff man, will be moved around or will sit on the bench as manager Don Wakamatsu tries to juggle his lineup to find playing time for Chavez, LF/DH Ken Griffey Jr. and DH Mike Sweeney.

PLAYER NEWS:

--LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith went on the disabled list unexpectedly before Wednesday's game. Rowland-Smith, who was supposed to start Thursday's series finale with the Angels, came down with triceps tendinitis while throwing in the bullpen. He didn't have full range of motion with his left arm. As a result, the Mariners will turn to rookie RHP Chris Jakubauskas to start Thursday.

"I felt good in my first start," Rowland-Smith said, "but a couple of days later I had some stiffness. I thought it was normal and would go away overnight. Instead I woke up the next morning with my range of motion really restricted."

--RHP Chris Jakubauskas, who'd only pitched in a dozen Class AAA games before the 2009 season, will be the starting pitcher Thursday for Seattle, replacing injured LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith. Jakubauskas, who made the team this spring as a non-roster pitcher, is a former independent league player who didn't take up pitching until turning pro. He was a first baseman and outfielder in college. "Mentally I came to spring training just to do my best and show them what I could do," Jakubauskas said after getting the news. "This is a big day, but mostly I'm concerned about Row. We need him to be healthy and pitching."

--3B Matt Tuiasosopo was expected to get sent down Wednesday as the Mariners activated RF Ichiro Suzuki from the disabled list. Instead, the Mariners put LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith on the disabled list and left Tuiasosopo on the roster. However, the club will need someone to take over in the bullpen for RHP Chris Jakubauskas, who will take Rowland-Smith's spot in the rotation, so it's likely Tuiasosopo, who has yet to play in a game, will return to Class AAA Tacoma before too much longer.

--C Kenji Johjima pulled up running from first to third on a double by SS Yuniesky Betancourt in the fourth inning and was replaced by rookie C Rob Johnson. Johjima was diagnosed with right hamstring tightness. He will be re-evaluated Thursday morning.

--LF Endy Chavez singled in the third inning and homered in the fifth, extending his hitting streak to nine games, tying his career high. Wednesday was the first time this season he'd been second in the batting order. He was the leadoff man until RF Ichiro Suzuki returned from the disabled list for Wednesday's game.

--DH Ken Griffey Jr.'s solo home run in the fifth inning followed one by LF Endy Chavez to give Seattle its first back-to-back homers of the year. For Griffey, the home run was his 400th as a Mariner, 398 of which were hit during his first stretch with the team from 1989-99. Griffey becomes the first major league player with 400 homers for one team and 200 for another, having hit 210 for the Cincinnati Reds from 2000-08.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RF Ichiro Suzuki (bleeding ulcer, excessive fatigue) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He appeared in an extended spring training game on April 9 and a minor league intrasquad game April 10. He was activated April 15.

C Kenji Johjima (right hamstring tightness) left the April 15 game. He will be re-evaluated April 16.

LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (triceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11. He is not expected to be sidelined long-term.

OF Wladimir Balentien (sprained left wrist) was hurt April 11, and he didn't play April 12-15. He is day-to-day.

LHP Cesar Jimenez (biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29.

LHP Ryan Feierabend (Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16.

LHP Tyler Johnson (left shoulder surgery in May 2008) started the season in the minors. He is attempting to rebuild his strength.

RHP Chad Cordero (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) signed a minor league deal with the Mariners during the spring, and he wasn't ready for opening day. He could return in May, however, and then would be a competitor for the closer's job.

ROTATION:

RHP Felix Hernandez

LHP Erik Bedard

RHP Carlos Silva

LHP Jarrod Washburn

RHP Chris Jakubauskas

BULLPEN:

RHP Brandon Morrow (closer)

RHP Miguel Batista

RHP Roy Corcoran

RHP Mark Lowe

RHP David Aardsma

RHP Shawn Kelley

CATCHERS:

Kenji Johjima

Rob Johnson

INFIELDERS:

1B Russell Branyan

2B Jose Lopez

SS Yuniesky Betancourt

3B Adrian Beltre

INF Mike Sweeney

INF Ronny Cedeno

INF Matt Tuiasosopo

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Endy Chavez

CF Franklin Gutierrez

RF Ichiro Suzuki

DH Ken Griffey Jr.

OF Wladimir Balentien