For the second time this season, the Seattle Mariners have received unfortunate news about star pitcher Felix Hernandez.
After placing Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday, the Mariners announced today that for the second time this season, Hernandez has right shoulder bursitis and is expected to be out 3-4 weeks. Seattle previously placed Hernandez on the disabled list with this issue in April, and it took the 31-year-old Hernandez almost 8 weeks to return.
Hernandez, who struggled in his last start against the Texas Rangers in-which he surrendered 4 earned runs over 5.1 innings, was experiencing discomfort in his shoulder days after pitching. Even with the timetable for return set, Mariners manager Scott Servais remains skeptical as to when Hernandez will be activated from the disabled list:
“He had some inflammation in his [upper arm] and isn’t feeling good at all,” Servais said, per MLB.com. “He felt it a little coming out of his last start in Texas. He didn’t feel great the last couple days. Just talking it over yesterday, we decided it was best to shut him down for a little bit and try to get him back feeling good again.”
In-addition to losing Hernandez for the coming weeks, right-handed relief pitcher David Phelps will miss 2-3 weeks with an right elbow impingement. First baseman Yonder Alonso, who was acquired on Sunday by the Mariners in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, will take Phelps’ spot on the 25-man active roster, as Phelps joins Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list.
Seattle is currently just one game back of the final American League Wild Card spot, which makes the timing of Hernandez’s injury and Phelps so significant. James Paxton will now have added pressure to perform like he has every 5th day this season.
The 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner Hernandez is 5-4 on the year with a 4.28 earned run average, his worst earned run average mark since 2006 when King Felix had a 4.52 earned run average in 31 games.
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