On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners placed starting pitcher Felix Hernandez on the disabled list with lower back stiffness. The team backdated the stint to July 8, two days after his most recent start.
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Hernandez, who owns a 5.13 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 19 starts this season, had previously avoided missing time this year. Now he will likely be out until after the team returns from the All-Star Break.
The Mariners were already seeking starting pitching to upgrade their rotation before the trade deadline. Now the need to add a pitcher will be even greater for Seattle in the weeks ahead.
Expect Seattle to remain involved in talks for the likes of J.A. Happens, Nathan Eovaldi and Cole Hamels in the coming weeks.
While Hernandez stayed healthy until now, his struggles paired with persistent durability issues, make upgrading the rotation a pressing need for the Mariners.