Seattle moves Karns to bullpen, LeBlanc stays in rotation

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners are moving starter Nathan Karns to the bullpen and keeping Wade LeBlanc in the rotation moving forward.

Seattle manager Scott Servais said Tuesday that Taijuan Walker would start on Thursday against Baltimore and LeBlanc would be pushed back to Friday. That left out Karns, who for a time earlier this season was Seattle's most consistent starter but has struggled to get deep into games. Karns has pitched past the fifth inning once in his last eight starts, but has gone 3-1 during that span.

Karns is 6-2 with a 4.56 ERA overall in 15 starts.

Walker has been bothered by an ankle injury that caused him to miss his last turn in the rotation. After receiving a cortisone shot to relieve the pain, Walker threw a normal bullpen on Tuesday and didn't feel any discomfort. LeBlanc started in place of Walker and threw six shutout innings last Friday, earning another start.