Flexen (0-2) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 14-9 loss to the Cubs after striking out one and allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks across 2.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen looked to have a clear path to capturing his first win of the season heading into the bottom of the second inning, as the Mariners offense spotted him a 7-0 lead. The right-hander proceeded to allow a run in the bottom of the second before returning to the mound for the third and completely unraveling. He was charged with seven of the eight runs the Cubs scored in the third frame to complete their comeback bid, with Trey Mancini slugging a two-run home run off of him and Nelson Velazquez mashing a grand slam. Flexen now sports an 8.74 ERA and 2.03 WHIP over 11.1 innings on the season, but despite his poor results, he may continue to serve as the Mariners' No. 5 starter, as the Mariners are otherwise lacking in appealing alternatives while Robbie Ray (elbow) is on the shelf.

Flexen (0-1) was tagged with the loss against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Flexen entered the rotation as a result of Robbie Ray (elbow) hitting the injured list. Flexen put up a decent showing, but a Logan O'Hoppe two-run homer off him in the second inning was enough to pin him with a loss. Ray is expected to be out until at least May, so Flexen should have multiple more turns in the rotation. Wednesday's outing was evidence that he's capable of keeping the Mariners competitive in his starts, but the right-hander's paltry strikeout numbers over the past two campaigns make him an unexciting fantasy option.

Flexen is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Angels, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

As anticipated, Flexen will enter the rotation as a replacement for Robbie Ray, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. The right-hander will likely make more than a handful of starts while Ray recovers, and Flexen should be reasonably stretched out after pitching four innings of one-run ball in relief of the injured Ray in Friday's game against the Guardians. Flexen doesn't miss many bats and relies on quality defense behind him, so he likely profiles as more of a streaming option in the majority of leagues.

Flexen allowed an earned run on four hits and three walks across four innings in a loss to the Guardians on Friday. He struck out one and did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Starter Robbie Ray was chased after 3.1 innings, leading to what could have been a busy night for the bullpen. However, Flexen, a member of the rotation for most of the last two seasons, ate up some valuable innings in the back end of the contest and spared the arms of several fellow relievers in the process. Having thrown 66 pitches Friday, Flexen is unlikely to be available again until after the weekend.

Flexen will not open the season in Seattle's starting rotation, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Mariners will have Luis Castillo on the mound for Opening Day, and he'll be followed in order by Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzales and George Kirby. That means Flexen will be a multi-inning relief option to begin the season despite a strong 2.65 ERA in 17 innings so far in the Cactus League. If anything was to happen to the names above Flexen would be the obvious replacement.

Flexen has allowed one run on eight hits and two walks while recording six strikeouts across 8.1 innings in three Cactus League appearances.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander worked all the way up to 50 pitches in his most recent outing Saturday against the Rockies as he continues to try and make a case for a back-end rotation spot. Flexen's 8-9 record last season was, on the surface, a step back from his career-best 14-6 mark in 2021. However, the 28-year-old's 3.73 ERA was his second straight sub-4.00 mark and was only slightly higher than the career-low 3.61 figure he'd generated a season prior.

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.