• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mariners welcome back Bedard at Rays

Apr 8, 2008 - 12:30 PM Seattle (2-5) at Tampa Bay (3-3) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Erik Bedard could only sit and watch over the weekend as his old team completed a four-game sweep of his new team.

The ace lefthander will return to the mound Tuesday as the Seattle Mariners attempt to snap a four-game slide at the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bedard, who was traded from Baltimore to Seattle in the offseason, was scheduled to start against his old teammates on Sunday but had his start pushed back due to inflammation in his left hip.

But Bedard's injury was not the most significant loss on the Mariners pitching staff over the weekend as the bullpen failed to show any consistency without All-Star closer J.J. Putz (rib cage).

The bullpen allowed three runs in the ninth during Sunday's 3-2 loss and gave up the winning run in the eighth inning of Monday's 5-4 setback.

Seattle's offense has yet to get going this season, failing to top four runs since a 5-2 win on Opening Day.

Bedard (0-0, 1.80) was the starter in that Opening Day victory, allowing one run and three hits in five innings against Texas. The Navan, Ontario native struck out five and walked four but did not factor in the decision.

The Rays will counter with righthander Matt Garza (0-0, 8.44). The 24-year-old got knocked around in his first start this season, allowing five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 frames against the Orioles on April 2.

Tampa Bay will be looking to break out of its own small funk after dropping the last two games of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.