Mariners set-up reliever RHP Joaquin Benoit was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday with shoulder inflammation. He has five relief appearances in his first season in Seattle after a three-player trade with San Diego. Benoit, 38, was 1-0 with two holds and a 3.60 ERA with four strikeouts.
His spot was taken by Mayckol Guaipe, called up from AAA Tacoma, Guaipe, 25, had three saves in six appearances with the Rainiers with a 2.16 ERA. He made his major league debut with Seattle last season, going 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games over four stints.
Benoit is the fourth Mariners reliever to go on the DL this spring after Charlie Furbush (shoulder), Evan Scribner (lat) and Ryan Cook (lat), none of whom have pitched this season. Despite the absences, the Seattle bullpen has the lowest opponent average in the majors at .162 (31×191), the lowest opponent on-base percentage at .233, WHIP (0.88), fewest baserunners per nine innings (8.07) and fewest hits per nine (5.10).
The Mariners (9-9) open a three-game series, part of a six-game homestand, against the last-place Houston Astros (6-13) at 7 p.m. Monday, with Taijuan Walker going up against former Mariners starter Doug Fister. After a 12-inning, 7- 5 loss at home Sunday to Boston, the Astros arrived having lost five of the past six.