The Seattle Mariners will be without a member of their vaunted rotation to begin the season. Right-hander George Kirby has been shut down with shoulder inflammation, the team announced Friday. Kirby has not been bouncing back well between outings and was sent for tests, which revealed the inflammation. He will start the season on the injured list.

Seattle Mariners star pitcher George Kirby's shoulder injury is fully an indictment of Jerry Dipoto and the entire Seattle front office.

The Mariners backup catcher told a story of him pulling aside Kirby during a game last season that helps highlight the synergy they built during the season.