Mariners Set Starting Pitchers for 2011

As the Seattle Mariners get ready for opening day Friday in Oakland, their starting ptiching rotation is set.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge finalized his pitching rotation Monday, and the group includes top prospect Michael Pineda, who'll be Seattle's No. 5 starter to open the season.

The rotation will be Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Doug Fister, Erik Bedard and the 22-year-old Pineda, who erased any doubts about his readiness with a strong spring, in which the 6-foot-7, 260-pounder posted a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings, with 15 strikeouts.

Hernandez will make his fourth Opening Day start on Friday in Oakland, followed by Vargas on Saturday and Fister in Sunday afternoon's series finale.

Bedard, making his first regular-season start in 18 months, will take the mound Monday at Texas, and Pineda will pitch Tuesday against the Rangers.