Opening Day starter: Gonzales or Kikuchi? 

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Manager Scott Servais reiterated Wednesday that he’s not ready to name an Opening Day starter for the Mariners' March 20 opener against the A’s in Tokyo, though it appears Marco Gonzales and Yusei Kikuchi could be lining up for the first two regular-season games.

Servais continues to say that with five days to spend in Tokyo before the opener, the Mariners will have flexibility to alter plans as needed. After Gonzales’ strong three-inning outing on Tuesday, Servais said the 27-year-old lefty is “moving in the right direction and getting ready to open this thing up in a few weeks.”

But Servais insisted Wednesday that he only meant Gonzales was gearing up for whenever he’s needed, and none of the pitchers have been informed yet how the rotation will play out.

“He’s getting ready for his first start of the season,” Servais said. “We’re getting closer, obviously. We’ll let the guys know when we get a little closer and then let you guys know where that’s at.”

Servais will have to factor in the Felix Hernandez situation, as the 32-year-old veteran has started the last 10 Opening Days for the Mariners -- the longest active streak in MLB -- but is coming off the worst season of his career.

Gonzales appears the logical choice and if he stays on turn, he could pitch the final Cactus League game before Seattle heads to Tokyo and will then be ready to pitch against the A’s one week later. Kikuchi, the Mariners’ prize free-agent signee, pitched well in his debut and is a strong candidate to pitch one of the two games in his native Japan as well.

Servais said the current plan is to have all five starters travel with the club to Tokyo. Two of them will get starts in exhibition games against Japanese squads on March 17-18.

“As much of a challenge as it is this spring to kind of line it up, we still have a ton of flexibility,” Servais said. “The big thing is to keep all five [pitchers] healthy and keep everybody in play, understanding that we play two exhibition games there. That will be an opportunity for two of the starters to go deep into that game and get their pitches in and get them ready for their next one. It’s almost like multiple Opening Days. We’ll line it up.”

Sheffield gets first start on Friday

Justus Sheffield, the Mariners’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make his first Cactus League start on Friday against the Brewers in a 12:10 p.m. PT game at Peoria Stadium.

Sheffield pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Wade LeBlanc on Sunday against the Rockies, but will open Friday’s televised game and will likely pitch the first three innings.

LeBlanc will instead start a “B” game against a visiting Korean team on Friday at 9 a.m. PT on the Mariners’ main practice field at their Peoria complex. The Mariners also have set up a "B" game against another Korean team next Tuesday in order to get more work for their pitchers.

Vogelbach homers after Healy scratched

With Ryon Healy sidelined by some tightness in his hamstring, Daniel Vogelbach was a late addition to Wednesday’s lineup, and the 26-year-old first baseman launched a second-inning homer and walked twice in the Mariners’ 6-5 loss to the Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.

Servais said Healy’s issue is minor and that he could be back as soon as Thursday. The news isn’t as good with fellow first baseman Joey Curletta, who remains sidelined by a sore oblique muscle and has yet to play this spring.

Curletta, last year’s Texas League Player of the Year with Double-A Arkansas, likely won’t be back for another week or so, according to Servais.

Vogelbach hit seven homers last spring and his first of this Cactus League season ignited a five-run inning off Indians starter Adam Plutko. But that was all the scoring the Mariners managed, and the Indians rallied with three runs in the sixth off Matt Festa and a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh off Rule 5 Draft pick Brandon Brennan.

Leake sharp in second start

Mike Leake pitched three scoreless innings with one hit, no walks and three strikeouts in his second Cactus League outing Wednesday. The veteran right-hander has allowed just one hit in five shutout innings this spring.

“I thought Mike threw the ball really well today,” Servais said. “He used both sides of the plate with a good sinker and changeup. He’s starting to get some arm strength built up and had good life on all his pitches, so definitely a good sign there."

Free-agent signee Hunter Strickland strengthened his bid for the closer role with a scoreless fourth inning. The former Giant recorded two strikeouts, whiffing Carlos Santana on a 96-mph fastball to end his outing.

“Hunter Strickland was outstanding," said Servais. "He’s working on some things and had a very good breaking pitch along with a lively fastball. Those two guys kind of highlighted things on the mound for us.”

Up next

Felix Hernandez faces the White Sox in a 12:10 p.m. PT start on Thursday at Peoria Stadium, as the veteran right-hander looks to get on track after allowing four hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings in his Cactus League opener. Lefty Roenis Elias and right-hander Justin Dunn, the club’s No. 3 ranked prospect acquired from the Mets, will be among the relievers to pitch in the televised contest on MLB.TV.