Luke

French

It’s not clear whether he’ll get an invite to spring training. French spent all of 2011 at Triple-A in the Mariners organization, posting an ugly 6.27 ERA over 26 starts. The 26-year-old will give the club some starter depth in the minors.

French has a 1.35 ERA after six starts. It’s something of a fluke, given that he’s a flyball pitcher and he’s allowed just one homer in 40 innings. Still, he’s making a case to take Ryan Rowland-Smith’s spot in Seattle’s rotation. French made 12 starts and three relief appearances in the majors last year and had a 5.21 ERA for the Tigers and Mariners.

French was called up as a reliever in May, but has worked as a starter throughout his five years in the Tigers’ farm system and likes the role better. He was 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA and a 72/20 K/BB ratio in 13 starts (81 2/3 innings) this season for the Toledo Mud Hens. AL-only leaguers should take a look.

French got the boot to clear room for Nate Robertson, who was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding move. French pitched three scoreless innings in his short stay with the Tigers.

Robertson woke up Tuesday morning feeling miraculously better, so he’ll head back to the bullpen. Rookie left-hander Luke French will be sent to Triple-A Toledo to create roster space.

French entered with an 11/9 K/BB ratio in 19 innings, but he fanned six and walked none today. It was poor run supposed that doomed him for a second straight start. He has a 2.22 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances.

French had a record of 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 34 innings for Toledo. He was a starter for the Mud Hens, but will work out of the bullpen initially on the major league level.

French, who will get the nod Friday against the Twins, is 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA and a 72/20 K/BB ratio in 13 starts (81 2/3 innings) for Toledo this season. He should do a better job of corralling major league hitters than Alfredo Figaro, who was optioned back to Triple-A in a correspodning move.

French scattered five hits, walking three and striking out three. He has yet to make it out of the seventh inning in any of his first three starts, but he has allowed just four earned runs in that time. He left with the lead, but was handed a no-decision after Joel Zumaya coughed up the lead in the seventh. French will carry a 1.89 ERA into his next start against the Mariners.

French was shaky, giving up six hits, including a home run, while issuing two walks and striking out three. He left after just 81 pitches -- 50 of them for strikes. The 23-year-old southpaw figures to get another look in the rotation.