PEORIA, Ariz. -- Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday it would be "hard pressed" for either Hisashi Iwakuma or Taijuan Walker to be in the Mariners rotation on opening day because of their injury setbacks during spring training. McClendon said the injuries to Iwakuma (finger) and Walker (shoulder) will open up chances for others in camp, but also leave a rotation that had questions entering spring training even more uncertain. "I always plan for the worst and our contingency plan has been that," McClendon said. "So like I said before this gives other guys opportunities to go out and see what they can do. Well see what happens." Iwakuma will have his right middle finger in a splint for another three weeks before throwing, while Walker is being shut down for a week because of inflammation in his right shoulder. By the time the duo make up for missed time on the mound it will be early- to mid-April before either is expected in a game. While Seattle is understandably cautious with the sore shoulder of the 21-year-old Walker because of his age, the finger injury has become frustrating for Iwakuma. When he went to see Dr. Don Sheridan on Friday, Iwakuma had the expectation that he could start throwing on Saturday. Instead, he was told to avoid throwing for three more weeks. The earliest Iwakuma is expected to pick up a ball is March 21. By the time he gets caught up on bullpen sessions and simulated games to get the needed innings to be ready for the season, itll likely be mid-April before he could join the Mariners rotation. "I was honestly disappointed and frustrated too at the same time, but you have to respect what the doctor says," Iwakuma said through an interpreter Saturday morning. "I was ready to play catch today so it is what it is and I have to wait three more weeks." Iwakuma went 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 33 starts last season and was a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award. Iwakuma reported for spring training wearing the splint and said his finger got caught as he tried to retrieve a ball in some netting while working out in Southern California on Jan. 20. McClendon also confirmed -- not surprisingly -- that Felix Hernandez is expected to be Seattles opening day starter when the Mariners open the season on March 31 against the Angels. "Unless youve got somebody else," McClendon joked. "Ill try and see if he can go opening day, the second day and the third day." Miro Heiskanen Jersey . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season. Alexander Radulov Stars Jersey . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/anton-khudobin-hockey-jersey/ . -- Derek Jeter spoke for 25 minutes, 44 seconds and answered 26 questions about his decision to retire at the end of this season. Jaromir Jagr Stars Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Alexander Radulov Jersey . Thats the feeling that eight Canadian Football League teams are experiencing right now in advance of the expansion draft to stock the Ottawa Redblacks.Gavin Sheehan has been pencilled in to ride Black Thunder in the Crabbies Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. Sheehan is poised to competitively link up with champion trainer Paul Nicholls for the first time after having partnered the nine-year-old in a workout at Wincanton last week.The only caveat behind the jockey booking is the fact Black Thunder is due to be put up for auction at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale on Thursday evening. Nicholls will saddle five other horses - Unioniste (Nick Scholfield), Wonderful Charm (Sam Twiston-Davies), Silviniaco Conti (Noel Fehily), Just A Par (Sean Bowen) and Rocky Creek (Andrew Thornton) - in the National.The Ditcheat handler told the Daily Telegraph: It will be Gavins first ride for me, but he rode him in work during the week at Wincanton.It just depends if the horse gets sold and what they want to do. A lot can still happen.They have all schooled over the National fences and it was all good.The main one is Conti, hes a seven-time Grade One winner, hes very well and trained for the race.Unioniste has done well, hes a much better horse than he was last year, if he ran well it wouuld be no surprise.dddddddddddd.Nicholls is aiming for a 10th trainers championship as the season reaches its climax, but is fearful of Willie Mullins, who looks like sending to Aintree an ultra-strong raiding party.At the end of the day if Willie runs all those horses, weve got no chance, Nicholls said.But by the start of Thursday we might be £250,000 in front, I suppose we might get that again by the end of the season, which means Willie has got to win £500,000. He could get that, but it makes it interesting.Im not going to change targets and run them everywhere. There is plenty of other good prize-money left at Cheltenham, Sandown, the Scottish National meeting anyway. 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