In dire need of resuscitation after losing five in a row and eight of nine, the Mariners Thursday activated RHP Evan Scribner from the 60-day disabled list and recalled him from his rehab assignment. To make room on the 40-man roster, Seattle transferred RHP Nathan Karns to the 60-day DL. Scribner is available Friday night when the Mariners begin a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field.
The 31-year-old Scribner made eight rehab appearances with the AZL Mariners, advanced A Bakersfield, AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma, and posted a combined record of 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA. He went on the 15-day DL April 3 with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle and was transferred to the 60-day DL May 29.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander will make his Mariners debut with his first appearance.
Last year, Scribner went 2-2, 4.35 in a career-high 54 appearances with Oakland. In parts of five MLB seasons with San Diego (2011) and the Athletics (2012-15), Scribner is 5-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 125 career games.
Karns, 28, was placed on the 15-day DL with a low back strain July 30. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-hander went 6-2 with a 5.15 ERA in 22 games (15 starts) with the Mariners this season.
Also Thursday, the Mariners sent LHP Jake Brentz and RHP pitcher Pedro Vasquez to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete the trade for RHP Arquimedes Caminero, whom the club acquired Aug. 6 in exchange for a player to be named later and a conditional player to be named later.
Brentz, 21, this season appeared with A Everett, A Clinton and AAA Tacoma, posting a combined record of 4-2 with a 5.32 ERA. Vasquez, 20, made appearances with the AZL Mariners and A Clinton this season, posting a combined record of 5-4 with a 2.26 ERA.
LHP Ariel Miranda (1-1, 4.98) will throw for Seattle at 7:10 p.m. Friday night opposite Angels LHP Brett Oberholtzer (1-0, 7.00). The Mariners are 7-6 against the Angels this season.
The third-place Mariners (68-65) are 11.5 games back of the Texas Rangers and three back of the Houston Astros in the AL West race, and four behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild card.