The Mariners received good news when pitcher Hisahi Iwakuma was cleared to have the protective splint removed from the injured middle finger on his throwing hand.

"The finger is very stiff right now, but the good thing is I am pain free," Iwakuma said through translator Antony Suzuki on Tuesday.

Manager Lloyd McClendon said Iwakuma would start slowly by throwing tennis balls on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to an ESPN.com report.