Mariners’ Félix Hernández lands on 10-day IL with shoulder strain
May 12, 2019, 9:55 AM | Updated: 10:13 am
Mariners RHP Félix Hernández has given up 13 earned runs over his last two starts. (AP)
(AP)
After rough outings in back-to-back starts, veteran Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández was placed on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder strain Sunday morning.
Hernández struggles in Boston’s big 3rd inning, Mariners fall 9-5
Hernández’s IL trip was just the start of a number of roster moves made ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Boston against the Red Sox. Here’s everything else that happened:
• Right-handed relief pitcher Dan Altavilla recalled from Double-A Arkansas
• Right-handed relief pitcher Parker Markel selected from Triple-A Tacoma
• Outfielder Braden Bishop optioned to Triple-A Tacoma
Though Hernández, 33, reached the milestone of 2,500 career strikeouts Saturday, becoming just the 12th pitcher in MLB history to do so pitching for one team, he made it through only 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and a season-high three walks in a 9-5 loss to the Red Sox. In his previous outing last Monday in New York, the Yankees scored seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and a walk. Hernández is 1-4 with 6.52 ERA in eight starts this season, but his ERA has ballooned from 3.91 over his last three games.
Servais said Felix reported a little shoulder discomfort to trainers after the game last night, will be further checked out in Seattle.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 12, 2019
Altavilla, 26, has appeared in 79 games for the Mariners since 2016 but has struggled to stick in the majors due to injuries and inconsistency. He has pitched in one MLB game this season, allowing a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning during Seattle’s season-opening sweep of the Oakland A’s in Japan. He has allowed no runs on just two hits and two walks over 7 2/3 innings with Arkansas, and before that he gave up six earned runs over five appearances (4 2/3 innings) with Tacoma.
Markel, 28, will be making his major league debut in his first appearance with the Mariners. He has pitched in 13 games as a reliever combined between Arkansas and Tacoma this season, going 3-0 with four saves, 35 strikeouts, a .086 opponent batting average (5 for 58) and 0.52 ERA (one earned run in 17 1/3 innings).
The 25-year-old Bishop has played eight games with the Mariners this season over two stints with the MLB club. He is 2 for 20 at the pate with Seattle. With Tacoma this year, he is hitting .267 (24 for 90) with eight runs, seven doubles, three home runs, 13 RBIs, 12 walks and a .356 on-base percentage in 21 games.
The Mariners will need to make another move to add a starting pitcher to take Hernández’s turn in the rotation before it comes up again Friday against the Minnesota Twins. That could end up being left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who is working his way back from an oblique strain.
Wade LeBlanc will make a rehab start tomorrow, if all goes well there is a chance he could start one of the Mariners games next weekend.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 12, 2019
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