BRENT STECKER

Three things: Will Felix Hernandez’s return get Mariners back on track?

Jul 18, 2016, 12:52 PM

The Mariners have gone 18-27 since Felix Hernandez last pitched for the team on May 27. (AP)...

The Mariners have gone 18-27 since Felix Hernandez last pitched for the team on May 27. (AP)

(AP)

The Mariners began the second half of the MLB season much like they ended the first half, failing to win a crucial series against another team in the Wild Card race. Still struggling to stay above .500, Seattle appears closer and closer to choosing the “Seller” door as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches on Aug. 1.

Here are three things to consider this week about the M’s.

1. Hisashi Iwakuma has kept the rotation above water.

There was one thing above all that clearly stuck out as a positive for the Mariners over the weekend, and that was Iwakuma’s gem on Saturday. The 35-year-old right-hander changed speeds and eye levels masterfully over seven innings to lead Seattle to a 1-0 win over Houston, allowing just two hits and a walk while tying his season-high strikeout total at eight. It was the best start of the season for who has been the Mariners’ most reliable pitcher. Over his last 12 starts, he’s made it through the sixth inning in all but one. And for the season, he’s 15 for 19 in making it six frames in starts. In a year when injuries have derailed the rotation and inability to get into the late innings has plagued nearly every starter, Iwakuma’s performance has been huge.

2. Are Mike Zunino and Norichika Aoki going to be back this week?

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has said he expects both catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Norichika Aoki to be back with the big club from Triple-A sooner rather than later, but there was no movement on that front last week. The issue with Aoki is his ability to hit lefties, and Dipoto said the Mariners wanted him to get more opportunities to face southpaws in the minors before calling him back up. Those opportunities didn’t come over the weekend, although his 4-for-4 night on Saturday for Tacoma certainly didn’t hurt. The issue for Zunino is playing time, as the M’s want to make sure he gets as much as possible this year. The opportunity may be opening up for that to happen with the Mariners, as overworked starting catcher Chris Iannetta received back-to-back days off over the weekend, is hitless in his last four games, and has seen his average drop 32 points since June 16. It shouldn’t be a surprise if one or both of Zunino and Aoki are back with Seattle by week’s end.

3. Will Felix’s return restore order to the kingdom, or is it already too late?

Felix Hernandez last pitched for the Mariners on May 27, landing on the disabled list a few days later with a calf strain. They were 28-18 entering that last start. After losing the weekend series to Houston, they sit at 46-46. While it’s hard to blame The King’s absence for the entire swoon, it’s certainly been a factor. Felix will make his triumphant return for the Mariners in Wednesday’s series finale against the White Sox, and it won’t be a moment too soon for Seattle. The question is, did the M’s fall back too far to recover in the playoff race while Hernandez was out? The Mariners will have to figure that out quick with the trade deadline in just two weeks.

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Three things: Will Felix Hernandez’s return get Mariners back on track?