Steve Cishek
RP FA
Sat 5/6/17 6:47 PM

Cishek (hip) will begin a rehab assignment next week, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.
EDGE Analysis
He threw a bullpen session Friday and said it went well. According to Johns, Cishek will likely head straight to Triple-A Tacoma, meaning he may not be there for long.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Thu 5/4/17 7:40 PM

Cishek (hip) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
With four innings of minor-league rehab work and multiple bullpen sessions under his belt, it appears that Cishek is nearing his return to the majors. A clear date has yet to be established, but if he's able to work through his mechanical issues, it's realistic that the righty could make his way back in the near future.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Tue 5/2/17 7:43 PM

Cishek (hip) threw a bullpen session Tuesday with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre in hopes of fixing his mechanical issues, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
Cishek has tossed four total innings in his minor-league rehab assignments this season, but has been experiencing some mechanical issues that he is still attempting to work through. The reliever is set to throw another bullpen session with Stottlemyre before returning to the field for additional rehab outings. It sounds like Cishek still has some work to do before he's cleared to return to the Mariners' bullpen.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Thu 4/27/17 11:19 AM

Cishek (hip) will pitch for the second straight day during his Thursday rehab outing, Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
He threw a scoreless frame with Double-A Arkansas last night, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. Cishek probably will need more time after this step before returning to the majors. The Mariners have said that closer Edwin Diaz may work in high-leverage, non-closing situations, even with a lead. Perhaps after he returns and proves he's pitching to his peak standards, Cishek, who boasts 120 career saves, may sneak in the occasional opportunity.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Sun 4/23/17 11:36 PM

Cishek (hip) came out of Friday's abbreviated rehab stint without physical setbacks but is still dealing with straightening out his mechanics, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "Cishek wasn't as sharp as he'd been previously," manager Scott Servais said. "He felt fine. I just think the release point, it wasn't coming out great. But nothing physical at all, it was more of a mechanical thing."
EDGE Analysis
The 30-year-old reliever worked just two-thirds of an inning and gave up a single and two walks, so the short outing was a definite mixed bag. While the Mariners would like to have the former closer back in the fold as soon as possible, they want to see be effective in back-to-back outings before deeming him fit for a return. It's likely that Cishek will make another appearance for Triple-A Tacoma in the coming week and could potentially be ready to come off the disabled list upon the Mariners' return home on May 2. Servais has emphasized that neither Cishek's hip or shoulder have given him any trouble and that mechanics are the sole source of any struggles he's currently experiencing.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Sat 4/22/17 5:28 PM

Cishek (hip) started for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday versus El Paso, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning and giving up one hit and two walks, Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
It was Cishek's first rehab start at the Triple-A level after pitching a scoreless inning for Double-A Arkansas on Monday. The veteran reliever fired 20 pitches Friday, getting exactly half in the strike zone. The 30-year-old is slated for multiple rehab appearances for Tacoma before his Mariners 2017 debut.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Thu 4/20/17 1:27 PM

Cishek (hip) shifted his rehab assignment from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Tacoma, Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Cishek felt good after recording a scoreless inning with Double-A Arkansas in his first appearance since undergoing hip surgery last October. He'll pitch two or three more times with Tacoma before he rejoins the Mariners, where he should slot in as a primary setup option for closer Edwin Diaz.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Mon 4/17/17 11:07 PM

Cishek (hip) pitched a scoreless first inning in a rehab start for Double-A Arkansas on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. "The numbers were good," manager Scott Servais said of the report he got from Arkansas manager Daren Brown. "He threw the ball well and felt good coming out of it. He won't pitch tomorrow. He'll have a day or two down and then maybe get back to back outings in at the Double or Triple A level based on where the schedules are at."
EDGE Analysis
Cishek got through the opening frame in 18 pitches, throwing 11 for strikes and getting his three outs on a grounder and a pair of flyballs. The outing is first of what is expected to be multiple appearances for the veteran before he's deemed ready for a return to the Mariners. Cishek projects as a hard-throwing setup option behind closer Edwin Diaz when he does return to action, with the potential for occasional save opportunities as well.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Sun 4/16/17 3:16 PM

Cishek (hip) will report to Double-A Arkansas to begin his rehab assignment this week, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Cishek is expected to make three or four rehab appearances in the minors before the Mariners activate him from the 10-day disabled list, likely at some point before the end of April. Assuming his velocity checks out fine during the rehab assignment, Cishek should be able to capture a prominent setup role for the Mariners upon activation.

Steve Cishek
RP FA
Fri 4/14/17 7:06 PM

Cishek (hip) is expected to head out on a minor league rehab assignment in the next few days, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's uncertain which affiliate he will join, but Cishek is expected to make at least three or four appearances on the minor league side to prepare for a return to the major-league club. While Cishek figures to take on some high-leverage work upon activation, he's not a real threat to a healthy Edwin Diaz for the closer role.