SEATTLE -- Rookie right-hander Andrew Moore, who has struggled in his last few starts for the Mariners, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday in a series of roster moves prior to the start of a three-game set with the Mets.
Moore, the club's No. 4 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, would have been next scheduled to face the Rangers on Tuesday in Arlington. Manager Scott Servais said right-hander Erasmo Ramirez, acquired from the Rays on Friday, will slide into the rotation in Moore's spot.
The 23-year-old Moore went 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA in his first six Major League starts, and he had given up 11 home runs in 36 2/3 innings.
Servais said Moore needs to regain the outstanding command he showed in his first start against the Tigers, when he won his debut on June 22.
"The outing against Detroit was, like, 18-of-18 first-pitch strikes, and that is so key for him," Servais said. "Getting back into counts when he's behind 2-0 or 3-1 is a challenge. He's made some mistakes. That happens with young pitchers.
"I'm not down on him at all. I said at the beginning he's going to win a lot of games as a Mariner, and I still believe that today. But where we're at in the playoff situation, trying to chase a Wild Card spot, it'd be best to let him regroup in Tacoma and go with a guy that has been around the league a little more and see where that takes us."
The Mariners brought up two relievers -- right-handers Casey Lawrence and Cody Martin -- from Tacoma to bolster the bullpen in the short term. In addition to Moore's departure, there was already another roster opening created by the trade of reliever Steve Cishek for Ramirez, who may not join the team until Sunday.
"That gives us a couple extra arms out of the 'pen this weekend," Servais said. "I'm not quite sure when Erasmo is going to report yet. They were in New York and he's headed back to Tampa, and that's a long way from here. In the short term, we have Martin and Lawrence to help us out in bullpen."
Martin had to be added to the 40-man roster, so infielder Tyler Smith was designated for assignment to open a spot.
Lawrence, 29, will be starting his third stint with the Mariners this season, and he has a 5.71 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three walks over 17 1/3 innings in a long-relief role. He is 2-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 11 games, including seven starts, with Tacoma. He was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on May 11.
Martin, 27, is a former Gonzaga pitcher who posted a 3.81 ERA with one save in 12 games, including three starts, with Tacoma this year. He has 37 strikeouts and eight walks over 28 1/3 innings. Martin pitched in nine games for Seattle last year, including two spot starts, with a 3.86 ERA.
Smith was designated for assignment after batting .239 with six home runs and 28 RBIs in 84 games for Tacoma. He played 10 games for Seattle earlier this year, batting .188 with a double in 16 at-bats.