KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The final word on whether Mariners ace Felix Hernandez will make his next start on schedule will hinge on how his elbow feels after playing catch on Wednesday.
But Hernandez still harbors no doubt he’ll stay on schedule. He had no problems Tuesday in playing catch and foresees nothing preventing him from starting Friday against the Angels in Anaheim.
“It ain’t happening,” he said dismissively.
Hernandez exited Sunday’s 9-2 victory at Texas as a precaution in the sixth inning because of stiffness in his elbow. He said afterward that it’s “not a big deal,” and that he would “be throwing my next start.”
Still, this is King Felix, so manager Lloyd McClendon remains cautious.
“As we speak, yes, he is (scheduled to pitch Friday),” McClendon said. “He’ll do his normal routine. He will throw. If he’s ready to go, he’ll go. If he’s not, then he won’t go.”
If healthy, Hernandez projects to get two more starts as he pursues several personal milestones: Friday at Anaheim and Sept. 30 vs. Houston at Safeco Field.
At 18-7, Hernandez needs one victory to match his previous career high,set in 2009, and two to become the Mariners’ first 20-game winner since Jamie Moyer won 21 in 2003.
Hernandez also needs 4 1/3 more innings for his seventh consecutive 200-inning season and 15 strikeouts to reach 200 for for a sixth consecutive season.
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