Mariners Call Up Tommy Milone in Trio of Moves

The Mariners have made three roster moves ahead of game two of Saturday's doubleheader with the Angels, including calling up veteran left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone.

Inside the Mariners | Jun 18, 2022

Mariners Call Up Tommy Milone in Trio of Moves /

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Seattle Mariners

SEATTLE — Ahead of game two of Saturday's doubleheader with the Angels, the Mariners have selected the contract of veteran left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone.

Milone, 35, appeared in 23 games for Seattle back in 2019 and signed a minor league deal with the team on March 31. He made seven starts down in Triple-A Tacoma, averaging 8.16 strikeouts per nine innings pitched with a 6.8 percent walk rate and an ERA of 1.13.

It's likely Milone, who hasn't pitched since June 14, will see action on Saturday night as the Mariners get set to play their 10th game in nine days. They brought up fellow left-hander Justus Sheffield as their 27th man for the doubleheader as well.

To make room for Milone on the 26-man roster, right-handed reliever Matthew Festa was optioned to Triple-A. Festa tallied 31 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched, but ran a 1.16 WHIP while surrendering 10 earned runs and five homers.

Seattle also had to make a move on its 40-man roster in order to add Milone, designating right-handed reliever Joey Gerber for assignment. Gerber was an eighth-round draft pick in 2018 and made 17 appearances for the Mariners in 2020, but he did not pitch at any level last year and only threw one inning in the Arizona Complex League on June 13.