Seattle Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma is poised to throw his first simulated game since going on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle, according to a report on the club's website on Friday.
Iwakuma, sidelined since April 23, came through Thursday's bullpen session in Tacoma, Washington, without any problems and will now throw a simulated game of about 45 pitches in Everett, Washington, with the team's Class A farm club on Monday.
He could be ready for a minor league rehab start on June 20 for Triple-A Tacoma if all goes well, Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon was quoted as saying.
The former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ace has pitched in just three games this season and is 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA.
Also Friday, Oakland Athletics switch-pitcher Pat Venditte has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder.
The roster move is retroactive to Thursday.
Oakland recalled right-hander Arnold Leon from Triple-A Nashville to fill the roster spot as the A's began a weekend series against the Angels in Anaheim.
The ambidextrous Venditte, the first pitcher to throw with both hands in the majors since Greg Harris in 1995, pitched in four games and allowed one hit with four strikeouts and two walks in 5⅔ innings of relief.
Venditte made his major league debut June 5 in Boston at age 29.