Lee could miss first start

It’s been a rough spring for the newest Seattle Mariner Cliff Lee. First he gets suspended for five games after throwing at Chris Snyder’s head, and now he has an abdominal strain that could bump him from his first start. Larry Stoner says it’s not too serious, however.

“Mystery solved: Cliff Lee has a right lower abdominal strain and was treated in Seattle today by team doctor Edward Khalfayan,” he tweets.

Lee is scheduled to be re-examined in seven days, but M’s general manager Jack Zduriencik was optimistic, saying, “We are hoping for a speedy recovery and look forward to him returning.”

We think he misses his first start, if nothing else just they don’t push it. It’s a long season and they’ll need him for way more starts than just one or two in April. We’re curious how this will coincide with his suspension. If he’s not on the DL and doesn’t make his start, does that count as serving his suspension? Or does he have to serve those when he’s completely healthy and how would anyone know?

Lee is currently appealing the suspension, but good luck with that.