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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Felix Hernandez to rejoin M’s rotation this weekend

Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez will return to the starting rotation on Saturday. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
By Dick Scanlon Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pitcher Felix Hernandez 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.