Paxton will remain in the rotation for at least one more start, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Despite being shelled in Wednesday's loss to the Padres, the Mariners will stick with Paxton in the rotation for now as he gets re-acclimated to facing major league competition. The 27-year-old has a track record of success at the big league level, highlighted by his 3.04 ERA over 13 starts in 2014. Paxton still possesses potential, and the Mariners are shorthanded when it comes to options in the rotation with Felix Hernandez (calf) on the disabled list. As it stands, Paxton will have a chance to re-establish himself as a member of the rotation Monday when the Mariners face the Indians.

Paxton was mauled by the Padres in his first start of the season Wednesday, as he allowed a whopping eight runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

If you're looking for a silver lining, seven of his 11 outs came via the strikeout. The 27-year-old Paxton has delivered promising results (3.97 ERA, 50:14 K:BB) in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this year, and after he posted a 3.90 ERA with the Mariners last season, he should be in line to get an extended chance at some point. However, his current stay with the M's could be a short one, as he only has a rotation spot while Felix Hernandez is on the DL.

Paxton was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma Wednesday and will start against the Padres, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton will take Felix Hernandez's (calf) spot in the rotation until he is back from the 15-day DL. The former fourth-round pick has posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.17 WHIP to go along with an impressive 9.53 K/9 through 10 starts at Triple-A this season.

Paxton will be recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, the Tacoma News-Tribune's Bob Dutton reports.

EDGE Analysis

A corresponding move has not yet been announced, and it is unclear what role Paxton will serve with the big league club. None of their starters are dealing with known injuries, so Paxton could just be headed for a bullpen role. The former top prospect has a 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 47.2 innings with Tacoma, so he certainly hasn't warranted a long-term role change, but the Mariners' current needs may dictate a short-term deviation from his developmental track.

Paxton, who was competing for the last spot in the rotation, was demoted to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday after getting hammered in his final spring start Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The Mariners didn't even wait for Nate Karns, who was named the fifth starter, to make his final start before demoting Paxton. That's how bad Paxton was Sunday and all spring. He gave up seven runs in each of his last two outings. Sunday he went four innings, allowing nine hits, including three homers, and three walks with no strikeouts. He'll work on his game at Triple-A and await injuries or ineffectiveness to hit the rotation. But this is a big setback for Paxton, who at 27 is no youngster.

Paxton struggled in his last start but hasn't necessarily taken a step back in the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation with Nate Karns, who had a better outing Friday, the Seattle Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton was awful in his start Thursday, failing to make it out of the third inning, allowing seven runs, six hits and three walks in two-plus innings. He struck out none and also hit a batter. Karns wasn't great Friday, but he did a much better job of getting out of jams and limiting damage. "When I lost the handle of my breaking stuff, I kind of lost it on my fastball," Paxton said. "I should have known that early, figured that out and gone mostly fastball-changeup, because that's what was feeling good." Manager Scott Servais said execution and in-game adjustments could be the "deciding factor" in choosing a fifth starter. "I still think it's relatively close," Servais said. "... It's still a competition. I know they feel it, which for me is a good thing. Competition usually brings out the best in people. And if I'm not mistaken, it gets really competitive on April 4 as well, so you need to be able to handle that stuff."

Paxton, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, struggled Monday as he allowed four runs and seven hits in three innings with one strikeout and no walks.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton threw 25 pitches in the first inning but needed only seven to get out of the second inning. He threw 47 total, 33 for strikes. He's battling Nate Karns for the last rotation job.

Paxton added a high fastball to his pitching arsenal and refined his changeup this offseason, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton worked on those pitches because his recovery last autumn from a torn fingernail prevented him from throwing breaking balls. "My changeup got way better (in the Fall League), and that high fastball changed everything," Paxton said. "Guys were always looking down in the zone for me because I have that (12-to-6) angle. But when I change the angle, and have a high fastball, they can't cheat down there all of the time." Paxton needs to prove he can stay healthy this year after missing major time the last two seasons. He's 27, and it's time to blossom already. He'll make his first spring start Wednesday as he competes with Nate Karns for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Mariners manager Soctt Servais admitted that it will be hard to count on Paxton for 30 starts, The News Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton has shown flashes of his potential when healthy, but injuries limited him to 13 starts apiece in 2014 and 2015. He enters spring training at full health and should have the upper hand on Nate Karns in a competition for the final rotation spot. If Paxton loses the battle, he'll likely still have a spot in the bullpen on the Opening Day roster.

Paxton will work on his curveball for the first time this offseason in a bullpen session Friday, 710 ESPN's Shannon Drayer reports.

EDGE Analysis

He threw his fastball and changeup Tuesday, but has not thrown a breaking ball this offseason, so Friday will mark an important step in his recovery from a finger injury. Given Paxton's injury history, the Mariners made a point not to go into spring training relying on him this season, but he will have the chance to beat out Nate Karns for the fifth spot in the rotation.