SEATTLE -- Erik Bedard's return will have to wait.
The Mariners left-hander was all set to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Royals and complete his comeback from offseason shoulder surgery, but the plan was scrapped when he felt stiffness after a bullpen session.
Ryan Rowland-Smith will get the start instead.
'I think it's a little bit of what he experienced before, a little bit of stiffness in his shoulder,' manager Don Wakamatsu said. 'Rather than jump right into the start and hope it goes away, we'll find out what the doctors say about it. Hopefully they reassure him it's nothing serious and just a little bit of stiffness.'
Bedard has been on the 60-day disabled list since undergoing surgery last August to repair a torn labrum. He made three rehab starts, the most recent of which came with Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday. He threw 4 1/3 innings in that outing and struck out three, with his fastball clocked in the upper 80s to low 90s.
Wakamatsu said Bedard was scheduled to meet with team doctors on Monday to determine what the next steps will be.
