Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma: Being eased into game action

Iwakuma is on a slower-paced spring training plan and won't see game action until March, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Analysis:

The strategy appears to be precautionary after Iwakuma faltered down the stretch last season in a 199-inning campaign. The 35-year-old has expressed that he wants to shoulder the same workload in 2017 while producing at a higher level, an evident goal from his current regimen. Iwakuma is scheduled for side work this Monday as he continues to progress towards Opening Day.