Mariners rookie James Paxton set to rejoin rotation Saturday

Seattle Mariners rookie pitcher James Paxton is set to return to the Mariners rotation for the first time since April and is listed as the probable starter for Seattle's game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night. Paxton had been on the 60-day disabled list after straining his lat muscle during an April 8 game against the Angels.

Seattle Mariners rookie pitcher James Paxton is set to return to the Mariners' rotation for the first time since April and is listed as the probable starter for Seattle's game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night. 

Paxton had been on the 60-day disabled list after straining his latissimus dorsi muscle during an April 8 game against the Angels. 

The 25-year-old threw two rehab starts at Triple-A Tacoma recently, saying after the second that he "felt good" and had no pain at all. He had previously made a rehab start in May, but experienced shoulder issues, delaying his attempts to return to action. 

Paxton made his major league debut last season, starting three games in September and going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 24 innings. In his two 2014 starts before going on the DL, he gave up three runs in 12 innings with 13 strikeouts. 

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The Mariners are currently in third place in the AL West, 10.5 games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics but only three games out of a Wild Card spot. On Thursday, they acquired outfielders Austin Jackson and Chris Denorfia.

- Molly Geary