Joel

Pineiro

Pineiro will continue to rehab from his elbow injury and pitch for the Mariners’ club in the Arizona Instructional League at some point in October. Assuming no further problems, Pinerio should be fine come next spring.

Pineiro was forced to warm up in the bullpen during last night’s extra-inning game and would have gone in if Kazuhiro Sasaki had had to come out of the game. Sasaki and Pineiro are both available today.

''I really let it go,’' Pineiro said. ''I had 25 pitches, and I let it go on the last five. My body and my mind told me to do it. And everything felt fine.’' Pineiro is a candidate to start on Opening Day for the Mariners.

Pineiro had no problems with the arm while giving up one run in five innings yesterday, but he’ll play catch today just to make sure he’s fine.

“It felt fine,” Pineiro said. “I guess it will be day to day. It’s pretty swollen, so that’s why. I guess the real test will be tomorrow throwing in the bullpen — unless they tell me not to throw.” Pineiro is expected to make his next start.

Pineiro made his last start July 25 in Anaheim before being put on the 15-day DL with a strained flexor in his right elbow. He is rehabilitating his elbow and is not throwing. “Unless he’s 100 percent in our mind, we won’t run him out there,” Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. With the Mariners’ position in the standings, it makes sense that they would shut down one of their best starters rather than risk further injury. Pineiro should be fine for next season.

Once the Mariners return from their current road trip, Pineiro will be re-evaluated and a throwing schedule will be drawn up for him. He hopes to be able to return to the Seattle rotation before the end of the season.

''You don’t usually look down to see where your foot is,” Pineiro said. ''I’m like almost everyone else, I use the rubber to drive off to throw a pitch. And here I was not using it and didn’t even realize it.’' Hopefully Pineiro can make the changes necessary to get back on track.

Rosenthal originally reported that Pineiro had a torn UCL and would need Tommy John surgery, but that seems to be false. Pineiro’s injury will open up a rotation spot for Bobby Madritsch or Gil Meche.

He gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out four. Aaron Rowand and Paul Konerko homered, but they were, of course, solo shots. Pineiro is 4-7 with a 5.89 ERA. He gets the Twins twice and the Royals once in his next three starts, but it’s still hard to recommend him right now.