Ackley is out of the lineup Tuesday. With lefty C.J. Wilson on the mound, Ackley (along with Seth Smith) will sit, with Nelson Cruz moving to right field, Justin Ruggiano taking over in left field and Rickie Weeks starting at DH. While Ackley can be a serviceable option when he's in the lineup against righties, the expectation should be that he will sit whenever the opposing team's starting pitcher is a lefty.

Ackley hit his first homer of the year Monday in a season-opening win against the Angels. Great way to start the year for Ackley, who has a bit of pressure on him this year to produce like the 2009 second overall pick should. Last year he homered in his fifth game, but it took him more than a month to hit his next one. Hopefully, he finds more consistency this season. Ackley could be benched Tuesday, though, for Rickie Weeks as the Mariners are scheduled to face a left-handed starter.

Ackley looks like he's headed for a platoon in left field with Rickie Weeks, the Tacoma News Tribune reports. Manager Lloyd McClendon didn't call it a platoon, but that's how he described it. "I think the combination of both of those guys out there should produce a left fielder where you have a combination of 20-25 home runs and 100-plus RBIs," McClendon said. "Now, you've got something." A platoon was an obvious option when the Mariners signed Weeks to play outfield, but McClendon's description makes it seem likely to happen. Ackley slugged .442 with 13 homers against RHP last year vs. .298 and one homer against LHP.

Ackley agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Mariners on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mike Perchick of WAPT reports. Ackley will make an extra $50,000 if he can reach 500 plate appearances on the season, a number he barely surpassed in 2014 (502). He finished with a .245/.293/.398 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in the campaign, and figures to head into 2015 as the team's starting left fielder.

Ackley is scheduled to visit a specialist for his ankle, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. An early-September MRI revealed bone spurs in Ackley's left ankle, and although he was able to tough it out over the remainder of the season, he indicated on a couple occasions that he wasn't at full capacity. He had trouble planting and pivoting on the foot, but GM Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday that he doesn't believe surgery is likely.

Ackley hit his 14th home run of the season as he went 1-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI against the Angels on Friday night. It's been a rough September stretch for Ackley with only eight hits in the month, including the home run on Friday, but he gives the Mariners a bit of pop in a time of need. Ackley (.245/.292/.401) will likely never live up to his prospect hype, even though the potential is still there.

Ackley is not in the lineup Thursday against the Blue Jays, Shannon Drayer of AM 710 ESPN in Seattle reports. Ackley has started the last four games and nine of the last 10, but he'll take a seat Thursday against Jays' lefty Daniel Norris. Logan Morrison will move over to left field, while Michael Saunders returns to the lineup in right.

Ackley is out of the lineup Saturday against the Astros, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. Ackley homered twice in Friday's win, raising his second-half slugging percentage to .503, but he'll head to the bench Saturday with lefty Dallas Keuchel on the bump for Houston. Logan Morrison will move out to left field, as Chris Denorfia steps into the two-hole in the batting order.

Ackley had a big night at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Seattle's win over the Astros on Friday night. He has been in and out of the lineup recently with bone spurs in his ankle, but he contributed to an offensive explosion that included four home runs by the surging Mariners. He now has 13 home runs and 64 RBI to go with a .249 average on the year. It appears he is healthy enough to man the outfield as needed over the remainder of the regular season.

Ackley (ankle) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Angels, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. Despite some lingering effects from the bone spurs in his ankle, namely trouble planting and pivoting on the foot, Ackley will return to the lineup Tuesday to face right-hander Cory Rasmus. It sounds like it will be a pain-tolerance issue over the remainder of the season.