SAFECO FIELD -- With the team just one game under .500 after 73 games, the Seattle Mariners have made a change to their starting rotation for reasons other than injury.
The Mariners promoted right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore from Triple-A Tacoma to start Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Moore is set to replace Yovani Gallardo in the rotation.
Gallardo has struggled all season. He's been unable to avoid the big inning in his 14 starts, posting a 3-7 record with a 6.30 ERA.
To clear space on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd for assignment.
Moore has jumped up the Mariners' ladder already this year. He began the season with Double-A Arkansas before being promoted to Tacoma after six starts for the Travelers. Moore is 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight starts for Tacoma this season.
"Obviously he's been a very good performer," manager Scott Servais said. "He's been on our radar since day one, high draft pick, really liked what we saw in spring training so we're going to give him a shot."
Gallardo will move into the bullpen for the Mariners for the time being.
"He's stretched out," Servais said. "If we get in a bad game, a rough situation, if something happens with a starter, we can certainly fire him in there and he's got pitches to work with and go from there."
Additionally, the Mariners activated shortstop Jean Segura from the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday. He's in the lineup and will bat leadoff for tonight's game against the Tigers. Segura missed 18 games after going ton the disabled list with right high-ankle sprain on June 2.
The return of Segura gives the Mariners their first opportunity to have a lineup at full strength since the opening week of the season. Segura went down with a strained hamstring on April 11, Mitch Haniger injured an oblique on April 26 and the lineup hasn't been at full strength since.
Segura will jump right back into the leadoff role with Servais intending to rotate Ben Gamel and Haniger through the second spot in the order based on matchups on a given night.
Tyler Smith was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma to clear a spot for Segura's activation from the disabled list.
Sam Carlson signs rookie contract with Mariners:
Mariners second-round pick Sam Carlson signed his rookie contract with the team this afternoon.
Carlson, a right-handed pitcher from Burnsville High School in Minnesota, was the 55th overall pick in last week's draft. Carlson was committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida but elected to head to professional baseball instead.
Carlson was the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year in Minnesota. During his senior season at Burnsville, Carlson had a 0.54 ERA (3 ER, 39.0 IP) with seven walks and 51 strikeouts with a 5-0 record. Carlson expected to begin his career with the Mariners in the Arizona rookie league.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - MAY 18: Jean Segura #2 of the Seattle Mariners hits a three-run home run off of starting pitcher Dylan Covey of the Chicago White Sox that scored Carlos Ruiz #52 of the Seattle Mariners and Jarrod Dyson #1 of the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning game at Safeco Field on May 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)