The Mariners brought up RHP Joe Wieland from AAA Tacoma and will start him Friday when Seattle begins a three-game series against the Athletics in Oakland. The Mariners were planning to start Ariel Miranda, but he threw 17 pitches Tuesday as the final reliever in the 15-inning win over Detroit.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated OF Daniel Robertson for assignment. On the 25-man roster, Wieland takes the spot vacated by RHP Jarrett Grube, who came up and went back down Thursday without throwing a pitch.
Wieland becomes the 29th player to pitch this season for the Mariners, a club record with six weeks left in the season.
The 26-year-old Wieland is 11-5 with a 5.38 ERA in 22 games, including 20 starts, with Tacoma. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is 10-2 with a 3.67 ERA over his past 17 games (15 starts). Wieland earned the win in each of his last five appearances (four starts), posting a record of 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA with 33 strikeouts and four walks.
Wieland was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers Jan. 12 in exchange for minor league infielder Erick Mejia. He spent the majority of the 2015 season with AAA Oklahoma where he went 10-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 22 games. He also made two starts for the Dodgers, going 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA.
In three MLB seasons with San Diego (2013-14) and the Dodgers (2015), he has combined to go 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA. Wieland was selected by Texas in the fourth round of the 2008 draft out of Bishop Manogue High School in Reno.
Robertson, 30, hit .263 in nine games with Seattle this season. In 95 games with Tacoma, Robertson hit .281 with six home runs and 40 RBIs. The Mariners claimed Robertson off waivers from the Angels Nov. 6.
Wieland will oppose Oakland’s Sean Manaea (3-7, 4.58) at 7:05 p.m. The Mariners (60-53), winners of six in a row, started the day 6.5 games behind AL West leader Texas and one game back for the second wild card slot.
