When Yusei Kikuchi signed with the Mariners on New Year’s Eve, there was already a plan set in place for him. Jerry Dipoto and the powers that be set out a path for Kikuchi to limit his innings in a way that allows him to finish the entire regular season schedule.
The Mariners are approaching these inning limitations in an unorthodox way. Instead of blatantly skipping starts, Kikuchi will act as an opener once every fifth or sixth start of the season. This won’t happen too many times, as Kikuchi’s innings limit is seemingly somewhere around 150.