Kikuchi will have his next start skipped for rest purposes, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
Kikuchi has received periodic rest throughout his first MLB campaign but it hasn't done him much good. He's posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with a 103:43 K:BB over 135.1 innings, so the Mariners will give him another breather. Justus Sheffield will start in Kikuchi's place Friday night against Toronto.