CLEVELAND – The true dividends of the Mariners’ pitching plan put in place for Yusei Kikuchi this season are supposed to be known next season.
The unique plan, which includes having a start reduced to one inning after every sixth or seventh start, is supposed to help the young lefty transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball and reduce the risk of injury over the long term.
But it seemed to yield some short-term benefits Friday at Progressive field.
After being held to just one inning in his previous start and facing the Indians for the second time this season, Kikuchi delivered his best performance of the season, tossing seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out 10 batters.