"Erik Bedard threw a two-inning simulated game Saturday and will likely start for the Mariners next weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays if there are no ill effects from his outing.

Bedard said he felt good in throwing roughly 40 pitches with batters standing in to face him before Seattle's game against the Boston Red Sox. Afterward, manager Eric Wedge said he doesn't see a need for a second simulated game - as long as Bedard feels fine Sunday morning.

Shawn Kelley also threw two 15-pitch innings in between Bedard's sessions and looked surprisingly strong. So much so the team now may send him out on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment rather than bringing him to New York City next week for more practice sessions.

"Going in, I thought all along that I'd have to do that," Kelley said. "That I'd go with the team to New York and throw another sim game. But they kind of gave me the impression today that it might not have to happen."

Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis watched both pitchers closely and said they are far enough along that additional bullpen sessions and simulated games aren't really needed.

"In Bedard's case, we're just looking at him and making sure the delivery's the same," Willis said. "If there is a fortunate side to all of this it's that it was a knee (injury) and not an arm. ... The ball came out of his hand, all of his pitches did what they do during a game. So, with him, it's delivery and not favoring the knee."