Hisashi Iwakuma dealing with neck stiffness

Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma is taking Monday off from throwing due to a stiff neck, but the injury isn't expected to affect his availability moving forward, 710 AM ESPN Seattle reports.

Iwakuma almost missed Sunday's start with the neck stiffness but pitched through the issue, giving up one earned run in eight innings. He'll likely continue to ease off his normal throwing schedule for as long as the problem persists, but it isn't expect to cost him a start. Iwakuma has been great so far, going 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 47:6 K:BB ratio in 66 innings.