Mariners manager: Hernández to rejoin rotation this weekend

Published

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Félix Hernández will rejoin the Seattle Mariners' starting rotation this weekend.

Manager Scott Servais made the announcement Tuesday.

Hernandez has missed three months with right shoulder stiffness. He pitched 3-plus innings Monday night for Triple-A Tacoma in his fourth rehab appearance, giving up one run on four hits and three walks while striking out five.

"Command of the fastball, as expected, wasn't as pin-point as he would have liked it, but he felt healthy," Servais said. "So he will slide into our rotation on Saturday."

The 33-year-old righty last pitched for the Mariners on May 11. In eight starts this season, Hernandez is 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA.

Hernandez won the AL Cy Young Award in 2010 and has finished among the top four in Cy Young voting three other times. He has had injury setbacks in each of the last four seasons, winning a combined 26 games in 77 starts.