Flexen will not be an active member of the Mariners' opening roster for their AL Wild Card Series against the Blue Jays, starting the series on their taxi squad.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen will likely be unavailable to pitch in the series barring any injuries to the Mariners' pitching staff and bullpen. The right-hander finished the 2022 regular season with a 3.73 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 95 punchouts over 137.2 innings in 33 appearances, including 22 starts.

Flexen allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings in a 7-6 extra-innings win in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against Detroit. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

In his first start since Aug. 6, Flexen held Detroit scoreless in the first two innings. In the third, a couple of doubles led to a run and in the fourth, he gave up a two-run, two-out homer to Spencer Torkelson. Flexen has a 4.02 ERA in 121 innings as a starter and a 1.62 ERA in 16.2 innings in relief this year. He'll likely continue in a relief role if he's included on the Mariners' AL Wild Card roster.

Flexen is scheduled to start the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Tigers, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen was initially in line to take the hill for Game 2, but the Mariners will instead treat the nightcap as a bullpen day and have the right-hander take the hill for the early game. Since he hasn't covered more than two innings in any appearance since the beginning of September, Flexen may not be asked to work especially deep into his start Tuesday.

Flexen is scheduled to start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Since being dropped from the rotation in early August, Flexen has generated a 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB across 16.2 innings while picking up two saves along the way. Flexen's strong form over the last seven weeks should be enough for him to earn a spot on the Mariners' postseason roster as a reliever, but he'll be needed to temporarily step back into the rotation with the doubleheader creating a stretch of six games in five days. Given that he hasn't covered more than four innings in any appearance since moving to the bullpen, Flexen may not work deep enough into Tuesday's outing to factor into the decision.

Flexen (8-9) got the win in extra innings over the Rangers on Thursday, allowing an unearned run over one inning without any hits, walks or strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen gave up a sacrifice fly to Marcus Semien that plated phantom runner Leody Taveras with the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th, but the Mariners walked it off in the home half of the frame with singles from Luis Torrens and J.P. Crawford. The veteran right-hander's last win had come July 25 against this same Rangers squad when he was still working as a starter, yet Flexen has adapted well to a relief role by not allowing an earned run across the 9.2 innings covering his last eight appearances.

Flexen struck out one in a perfect 11th inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen was the last reliever available after the Mariners drained the 'pen following a rain delay in the fourth inning. He slammed the door with ease, needing just six pitches to retire Luke Maile, Myles Straw and Steven Kwan in order. This was Flexen's second straight appearance with a save, though his effort Aug. 30 versus the Tigers was a four-inning assignment in a lopsided game. He's allowed four runs (three earned) through eight innings across four appearances since moving to the bullpen. For the season, the right-hander has a 3.89 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 87:47 K:BB through 125 innings.

Flexen picked up the save Tuesday in Detroit, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three in four innings in a 9-3 victory.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen entered the game in the sixth inning with the Mariners leading 9-0 and finished the ballgame to earn his first career professional save. It was the first appearance for the 28-year-old since Aug. 19 and the third straight time he's pitched in relief. There's a possibility he will receive an occasional spot start down the stretch but he'll likely get most of his work out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.

Flexen allowed an unearned run on one hit and four walks over two innings while recording two strikeouts during a relief appearance in a loss to the Rangers on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first appearance since transitioning to a bullpen role, Flexen clearly had some control issues, leading to him needing 43 pitches to record six outs. The veteran right-hander has been effective as a starter the majority of the season with a 3.86 ERA, and he'll likely be destined for multi-inning assignments akin to Saturday's while he remains a reliever.

Seattle manager Scott Servais said Wednesday that Flexen will shift to the bullpen, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Mariners foreshadowed Flexen's move to a relief role during their 1-0 win over the Yankees in 13 innings Tuesday, when he was spotted warming up in the bullpen late in the contest. Flexen wasn't ultimately needed to enter the game, but the Mariners will opt to shorten their rotation to five men after he was lit up for five runs over six innings in his most recent start Saturday against the Angels. Seattle could look to bring Flexen back into the rotation later in the season if workload concerns crop up for rookie George Kirby, but for the time being, the veteran right-hander will retain little fantasy value while he likely handles a low-leverage multi-inning role out of the bullpen.

Flexen (7-9) took the loss during a 7-1 loss in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen navigated the first two innings unscathed before surrendering five runs over the next four innings to fall in line for the loss. The rough outing breaks a five-start streak of allowing two runs or fewer during which the 28-year-old pitched to a 1.95 ERA across 27.2 innings. Flexen sports a 3.92 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 81 strikeouts in 117 innings across 21 starts and is scheduled to pitch again next weekend on the road against the Rangers.