These are mostly baby steps, but the Mariners appear to be making genuine progress toward restoring their projected rotation.
Lefty James Paxton is in line to be the first to return.
He threw a 25-pitch bullpen workout Thursday as the next step in his recovery from a strained forearm muscle, which surfaced after a May 2 start against the Los Angeles Angels.
His assessment: "Great."
Plans call fro Paxton to throw another bullpen workout Sunday before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment — probably to Double-A Arkansas, which begins a six-game homestand on Tuesday in Little Rock.