PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mariners manager Scott Servais has yet to name his Opening Day starter, but the man likely headed for that honor got roughed up Friday, as Marco Gonzales gave up 12 hits, two walks and nine runs in 3 2/3 innings in Seattle’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs in Cactus League play.

“Not good,” said Gonzales, who had allowed just one run and four hits over eight innings in his first three spring outings. “My body feels good. I don’t feel good. My timing was off tonight and it was just one of those nights. It’s the first night game of the season you pitch, the clock is a little off. I just felt off from the beginning.”

Gonzales didn’t get much help with a couple defensive misplays in the first inning, including a fly ball lost in the lights by right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. But he also gave up a host of hard-hit balls, including a long home run by Anthony Rizzo, while recording only one strikeout in the 74-pitch outing.

As for the Opening Day starter to face the A’s in Tokyo in 12 days, Servais would only say: “We’re getting closer to making that call.” But Felix Hernandez -- who has started the past 10 Opening Days for Seattle -- told Marly Rivera of ESPN that he’s been informed he won’t be starting until April 1 when the Mariners face the Angels in the fifth game of their opening homestand after returning from Japan.

Gonzales appears destined to pitch on Opening Day, as he’s on line to pitch the Mariners’ final Cactus League game in Peoria next Wednesday before they fly to Tokyo, which would put him in position to start the opener in Tokyo the following week.

But the 27-year-old will need to flush his rough start against the Cubs, who pushed across his final three runs off Minor League reliever Matt Walker after Gonzales was pulled with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth.

“Nights like this, you just have to be able to look past it, work on some timing things as we go along this week and get ready for the next one,” he said. “This is one of those times where you get to figure out how to turn the page.

“I’m frustrated, but I’m not worried. I’ve been through this before. I’ve been through it many times and I’m sure I’ll be through it many more times. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed. I got to face a good lineup. That was awesome. I love the challenge. Rizzo got me good, and now I know. You need that. We need these tests before the season.”

Mallex making progress

New center fielder Mallex Smith has been playing catch and building up his arm strength over the past three days and hitting off a tee in the batting cage as he returns from a strained right elbow that sidelined him for the first month of Spring Training.

“We want to be careful on how quickly we work him up,” Servais said. “Hopefully if everything goes good this weekend, he’ll get in a [batting practice] group Sunday or probably Monday then work from there. A few days of BP and build him up.”

Smith, who was acquired from the Rays to lead off and play center field, won’t be ready for the two Opening Series games against the A’s in Tokyo on March 20-21, Servais said during an in-game interview with ROOT Sports on Friday.

Servais values the team bonding experience of the trip for all his players, but no decision has been made yet on whether Smith will travel with the team to Japan or remain in Arizona to focus on his recovery.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the season, and I don’t want to lose Mallex for any more regular-season games then we have to,” Servais said. “So we have to balance being with the team and speeding up your rehab and getting back on the field with us. We’ll have to weigh both those scenarios and see what is best for the organization, is the best way to put it right now.”

Worth noting

• Third baseman Kyle Seager twisted his left wrist while diving for a ball down the line in the Cubs’ six-run fourth inning and was replaced in the bottom of the frame by Shed Long. Seager said the issue wasn’t serious and he was just removed as a precaution.

• Veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak emerged from his first bullpen sessions of the spring with no issues, according to Servais, and now will progress to throwing live batting practice soon as he works up to game action. Swarzak, one of five players acquired from the Mets in the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz deal, has been brought along slowly after dealing with shoulder issues much of last season.

Up next

Right-hander Erik Swanson -- one of the young pitchers acquired from the Yankees in the James Paxton trade the Mariners' No. 9 prospect -- will get his first Cactus League in Saturday’s 12:05 p.m. PT game against Kenta Maeda of the Dodgers at Cambelback Ranch in Glendale, which can be viewed on MLB.TV. Lefty Roenis Elias will get several innings of work as well as he tunes up for a likely long relief role.