SEATTLE – Without Mike Schooler, the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen was supposed to be questionable.

After the team’s first 28 games, the Mariners think all the questions have been answered. The Mariners’ relief pitching has been a major surprise.

“Everybody coming out of the pen is getting people out,” manager Jim Lefebvre said.

Schooler, who holds the club’s career record of 78 saves, hasn’t pitched this season, and the Mariners don’t know when he’ll be back.

Pitching coach Mike Paul is hoping Schooler can join his bullpen before the All-Star game in Toronto on July 9. But that remains to be seen.

“Obviously, it’s not a good feeling starting a season without Mike,” Paul said. “But the season is here and he’s not available so we had to go with what we have.”

With Schooler on the disabled list with an ailing right shoulder, here’s what the Mariners have in the bullpen:

– Rob Murphy, one save, 1.00 ERA in eight games and nine innings.

– Russ Swan, two saves, 1.08 ERA in nine games and 16 1/2 innings.

– Bill Swift, two saves, 1.93 ERA in seven games and 9 1-3 innings.

– Mike Jackson, two saves, 2-2 record in a dozen games and 17 1-3 innings.

– Bill Krueger, 1-0 record, 3.46 ERA in seven games and 13 innings.

The Mariners’ bullpen has played a major role in Seattle’s 15-13 start that includes a five-game winning streak following a 6-2 victory over Cleveland Wednesday night. The bullpen has six saves in seven opportunities.

Krueger and Jackson pitched 3 2-3 innings of scoreless ball in Seattle’s 7-6 victory over Cleveland Tuesday night, when the Mariners scored five runs in the ninth inning.

Swift – a former University of Maine standout – gave up a home run Wednesday night, but that was the only hit he surrendered in three innings in relief of Brian Holman.

The Mariners’ bullpen is even pitching better than Seattle’s highly touted starting pitching staff that features Erik Hanson, Randy Johnson and Holman. Hanson is 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA, Johnson is 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA and Holman is 3-3 with a 3.24 ERA.

Scott Bankhead and rookie Rich DeLucia, Seattle’s fourth and fifth starters, each were 2-2. Their ERA’s were 4.13 and 4.83, respectively.

When it became evident in spring training that the Mariners were not going to have Schooler to start the season, Lefebvre sought out Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland for some advice.

The Pirates won the National League East last season with a bullpen by committee. Leyland advised Lefebvre to do the same.

Paul said all of the Mariners’ relievers have accepted their roles positively.

“Everybody knows they have a chance to pitch early or late,” Paul said. “That’s good because they always know there’s a chance they’ll be in the ball game.”

Swift and Jackson are righthanders. Krueger, Murphy and Swan are lefthanders.

Swift said there’s no grand strategy to the way Lefebvre is using the bullpen.

“It’s just a matter of who’s hot and who’s pitching well,” Swift said.

Swift, 29, has been both a starter and reliever for the Mariners. He has a 29-38 career record for Seattle.

Despite the Mariners’ bullpen by committee, Swift and Jackson figure to be the key relievers if Schooler can’t come back.

Swift is confident the Mariners can make a run at Oakland in the American League West with their present relievers.

“If one guy doesn’t do it one night, then you try somebody else,” he said.

Schooler had 33 saves in 1989 and 30 last season before being sidelined the last six weeks of the year with shoulder problems.

“We miss Schools, make no mistake right there,” Lefebvre said. “As long as those guys are pitching the way they are and can do that until he’s back, that’s a big shot in the arm.”