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Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

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March 11, 2009 9:33 AM

Erik Bedard scratched from start

Posted by Larry Stone

CORRECTION: We were initially given incorrect information. Bedard's discomfort is on his right side, not his left. That's the opposite side of his hip injury last year.

Another Mariners' starter is down. One day after Brandon Morrow was shut down because of forearm tightness, Erik Bedard has been scratched from his scheduled start today because of tightness in his gluteus maximus.

As was the case with Morrow, the Mariners are saying they aren't concerned. But it's still ominous when 40 percent of your rotation is sidelined. Someone started to ask Don Wakamatsu, "If the season started today...'' and he interrupted with, "It's a blessing it's not today.''

On Bedard, Wakamatsu said, "It's in the muscle, not the hip. We felt it would be better to have him skip a start now, and have him throw a bullpen probably on Saturday. Hopefully, he'll get back after that point."

"We're not real concerned about it,'' Wakamatsu added. "We'll see. But right now, we're not concerned, because it's not in the hip joint. It's more of a muscle issue."

The Mariners don't believe it's linked to the hip injury that landed Bedard on the disabled list last year from April 15-26.

"It's really about being on the mound again,'' Wakamatsu said. "He had a little bit of a hip issue last year. This is a different thing. it's more muscle soreness. He had some stiffness about four days ago. We just felt it was best at this point to rest it a little bit. it might be a blessing to give his arm a little bit of rest. Everything with that is good."

By the way, Chris Jakubauskas will make the start for Bedard. Here are the lineups for the game against Kansas City in Suprise. Willie Bloomquist will be playing second base, and Gil Meche gets the start.

Seattle

Franklin Gutierrez CF

Chris Woodward 2B

Russ Branyan 1B

Mike Sweeney DH

Jeff Clement C

Wladimir Balentien LF

Matt Tuiasosopo 3B

Mike Morse RF

Ronny Cedeno SS

Chris Jakubauskas P

Royals

Coco Crisp CF

Willie Bloomquist 2B

David DeJesus LF

Mike Jacobs 1B

Billy Butler DH

Alex Gordon 3B

Brayan Pena C

Mitch Maier RF

Luis Hernandez SS

Gil Meche P

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