Iwakuma received no decision despite pitching well Thursday, as he held the Tigers to two runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked a pair.

After struggling thanks to injury early on, then languishing on the DL for months, Iwakuma's finally arrived in the 2015 campaign for real. He's turned in terrific work over his last three starts, allowing just four runs on 14 hits and four walks while striking out 18 in 20.2 innings. In short, he seems to have found the form that made him a reliable fantasy asset in the Seattle rotation over the last three seasons, and fantasy owners should take advantage. He'll host the Diamondbacks next week.

Iwakuma picked up his second win of the season Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five.

His one mistake resulted in a two-run shot by Brian McCann. After a rough return from the DL, Iwakuma's now put together two solid starts in a row and appears to be regaining his form. He'll next take the mound Thursday in Detroit.

Iwakuma pitched eight scoreless innings Saturday, allowing three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Iwakuma loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs on two singles and a walk but escaped unscathed. He then retired 10 of his next 11 and then his final 13 batters. He mixed an ineffective splitter, a 93 mph fastball and an improved curve. He stayed away from the slider that gave him trouble in his last start. This was Iwakuma's best start since last August. He needed it.

Iwakuama gave up five runs on eight hits -- including four homers -- in his return to the mound Monday night against the Tigers.

Matching up against a Tigers lineup without Miguel Cabrera, Iwakuma's mistakes were consistently hammered in his first start since April. Through four starts this season, he's sitting with a 7.17 ERA and nine homers allowed in 21.1 innings. He's scheduled to make one more start before the All-Star break, and it will take place Saturday at home against the Angels.

Iwakuma (shoulder) was activated from the DL and will start against the Tigers on Monday.

Iwakuma was strong during his rehab stint and is ready to go Monday against the Tigers. James Jones gets sent down to make room for Iwakuma, who before being injured, was 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. After being a Cy Young candidate in 2013, Iwakuma regressed a bit in 2014; however, he's still one of the Mariners' top starters.

Iwakuma (shoulder) will get the nod Monday against the Tigers, Shannon Drayer of 710 AM ESPN Seattle reports.

Iwakuma was initially placed on the DL on Apr. 24 due to a strained lat muscle, with an initial recovery timetable of 2-to-4 weeks. However, he suffered a setback in early May and didn't throw off a mound again until the end of that month. In three subsequent rehab outings between short-season Everett and Triple-A Tacoma, he was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 13:2 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings.

Iwakuma (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Thursday, and an announcement on the Mariners' rotation should come Friday, Shannon Dryer of ESPN Radio 710 reports.

Iwakuma may finally be nearing a return to the rotation after making just three starts this season. When he does return, it will be interesting to see who the Mariners bump out of the rotation following another stellar performance from Mike Montgomery, but Iwakuma's spot likely remains unharmed.

Iwakuma (shoulder) gave up one run while striking out six in 5.2 innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma.

He was forced to leave the start because of a blister but he said this happens every year and the Mariners' medical staff is capable of getting him ready for his next scheduled start. Of course, it is not clear if that will be with Tacoma again or if Iwakuma will be activated by the Mariners, but it seems like there is a good chance he rejoins the Mariners' rotation in the very near future.

Iwakuma (shoulder) will start for Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, Shannon Drayer of ESPN 710 AM Radio reports.

Iwakuma made a successful rehab start Saturday, and continues on track to rejoin the club at some point in the near future. When he does return, he should retake a spot in the Mariners' rotation.

Iwakuma (shoulder) fared well in Saturday's rehab start, and is scheduled to take the mound Thursday for Triple-A Tacoma, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

According to manager Lloyd McClendon, Iwakuma will need to make at least three rehab starts. The Mariners want to see him work his pitch count up to 100 pitches, as well as get his velocity up a bit. Iwakuma agrees with that assessment, admitting that another rehab start will help him to improve his command. A return at the start of July remains the most plausible scenario at this point.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma will make a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury, according to the Seattle Times.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma will make a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury, according to the Seattle Times. Manager Lloyd McClendon said Iwakuma needs to make at least two more rehab starts before rejoining the major league rotation.

Iwakuma will make his next rehab start Saturday at High-A everett, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Iwakuma pitched a successful simulated game Monday, so he'll progress to a rehab start over the weekend, and he's expected to throw 40-to-50 pitches. Iwakuma remains on track to return near the end of the month, barring a setback.

Iwakuma (shoulder) will throw a 45-pitch simulated game at High-A Everett on Monday and could begin a rehab assignment as early as next weekend, Shannon Drayer of ESPN 710 AM in Seattle reports.

Iwakuma continues to work back from a shoulder injury, and he most recently threw a bullpen session Sunday. Assuming Monday's simulated game goes well, he'll head to Tacoma for rehab, and it's unclear how many appearances he'd make before returning to the Mariners.

Iwakuma (shoulder) threw another bullpen session Sunday, Shannon Drayer of 710 AM ESPN Seattle reports.

It's Iwakuma second time throwing off a mound since he resumed his program last week. He's expected to require one more bullpen session before pitching a simulated game, and eventually, advancing to a rehab assignment. That number of activities probably keeps him at least a couple weeks away from rejoining the Mariners' rotation.

Iwakuma (shoulder) threw a 27-pitch bullpen session Thursday and said everything felt good, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The bullpen session, which consisted of all fastballs, was Iwakuma's first since landing on the DL in late April with a lat strain. He is expected to throw at least two more bullpen sessions before progressing to a simulated game and eventually a minor league rehab assignment.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma threw a 27-pitch bullpen session Thursday while recovering from a shoulder injury, according to MLB.com.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma threw a 27-pitch bullpen session Thursday while recovering from a shoulder injury, according to MLB.com. Iwakuma will throw two more bullpen sessions before progressing to a simulated game.

Iwakuma (shoulder) is scheduled to throw three bullpen sessions, beginning Tuesday, then a simulated game as the next step in his recovery, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports.

He threw a side session Monday, and will throw his first bullpen session Tuesday. On his current pace he could throw a simulated game next week, which would then likely be followed by two or three rehab starts with minor league affiliates. A late-June/early-July return to the Mariners' rotation looks like the best-case scenario at this point.

Iwakuma (shoulder) threw a side session Monday and is expected to throw a bullpen session by the end of the week, Shannon Drayer of ESPN 740 in Seattle reports.

Iwakuma continues to work back from a Grade 1 lat strain and has been on the DL since April 24. He suffered a setback in mid-May and is currently without a return timetable, but Monday's successful session is a step in the right direction. Once he's able to throw a bullpen session, the Mariners will likely have a better indication of when he may be able to return to the mound.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, threw a side session Monday and is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday, according to ESPN Radio Seattle.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, threw a side session Monday and is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday, according to ESPN Radio Seattle. Iwakuma has been on the disabled list since Apr. 24 with a strained lat muscle and has no timetable to return after suffering a setback in mid-May.

Iwaukuma (shoulder) is unlikely to throw off a mound within the next week, Christian Caple of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Although he's no longer shut down and played catch Thursday, Iwakuma is apparently at least a week or two away from taking the next step in the recovery process. A late-June return appears to be the best-case scenario, with sometime in July seeming much more likely.