Pineiro gone from rotation

OAKLAND, Calif. — Joel Pineiro has tried things to improve his pitching by working in the bullpen between starts.

Now, he'll be trying to make that improvement from the bullpen.

Pineiro will be replaced in the starting rotation by Jake Woods (3-1) beginning Sunday in Anaheim, Calif., manager Mike Hargrove said Wednesday.

"This gives us a chance to be able to work with him on the side more often," Hargrove said, "and give him more outings other than just one every five days."

Pineiro gave up nine runs and 12 hits in the 3-2/3 innings he pitched in Oakland on Tuesday. He is 0-3 this month with an ERA of 13.5. He has lost nine of his last 12 decisions.

"Things weren't getting any better, giving him innings and giving him starts," Hargrove said. "We needed to find a way to get him back to where he thinks he should be and we think he should be."

Woods, 24, is a left-hander who was a starter coming up in the Angels' organization. He has thrown more than 60 pitches in each of his last two appearances out of Seattle's bullpen.

"For me to take someone's spot who's struggling, that's definitely not the way you want to do it," Woods said. "But if they think it's the best thing for the team, I'm going to go out there and do the best that I can."

Hargrove said there had been discussion within the organization for weeks about the move. Pineiro declined an opportunity to talk about the move to the bullpen before Wednesday's game. Hargrove was asked how Pineiro took the news.

"I think he understands it," Hargrove said. "He's disappointed. But he understands."