The Mariners Friday recalled RHP Jonathan Aro and LHP David Rollins from AAA Tacoma, placed LHP Wade Miley on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 13, and designated RHP Steve Johnson for assignment. Aro and Rollins will be available to the club Friday when it opens a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Miley joins another starter, Felix Hernandez, on the DL. The news comes after Taijuan Walker left Tuesday’s game in Tampa early with a foot injury, although he is expected to make his scheduled start Sunday.
Also flying into Boston Friday was Adrian Sampson, 24, who is likely to be put on the roster to start in Miley’s place Saturday. Sampson was going to pitch Sunday for Tacoma. In 13 starts for the Rainiers, he’s 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA. In 80.1 innings, he’s struck out 61 batters and walked 13.
Sampson is a graduate of Skyline High in Sammamish and Bellevue Community College and would be making his major league debut.
Adding Sampson to the roster was not done Friday because the Mariners may need Aro, Rollins or both Friday to help an overworked bullpen. Either Aro or Rollins likely will be sent down to make room for Sampson, unless Friday events dictate otherwise.
Miley, 29, has a left shoulder impingement. He was acquired from Boston Dec. 7 (with Aro) in exchange for Roenis Elias and Carson Smith. This season Miley is 6-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 13 starts. He won six decisions in a row over nine starts from April 24 to June 7.
Aro, 25, went 2-2 with one save and a 2.45 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 22 games including one start with the Rainiers. In his last 12 appearances, including one start, Aro is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts. In 21 relief appearances, Aro is 2-2 with one save and a 2.79 ERA. Aro has posted 14 scoreless relief appearances, including nine of his last 11.
Aro made his MLB debut in 2015 with Boston, going 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA. In parts of six minor league seasons, he is 18-17 with a 2.80 ERA. Aro was signed by Boston as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.
Rollins, 26, went 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA in 22 games with Tacoma, all in relief. He has allowed earned runs in five of his 22 appearances.
Rollins made his MLB debut July 4, 2015 at Oakland after being acquired by Seattle from Houston in the Rule 5 Draft. He finished the year 0-2, 7.56 in 20 relief appearances. In his minor league career (2011-current), Rollins is 25-16, 3.24. He was drafted by Toronto in the 24th round in 2011 and traded to Houston in July 2012.
Johnson, 28, was 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA in 16 relief appearances this season after being selected from Tacoma May 3. On May 11, Johnson tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in relief vs. Tampa Bay, earning his first win since May 29, 2013.
The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright Johnson to the minors.
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (5-5, 4.10) pitches for Seattle in the first game of the Red Sox series Friday night opposite Elias (0-0, 16.20).