Felix Hernandez Injury: Updates on Mariners Star's Quad and Return

Seattle Mariners ace pitcher Felix Hernandez left Sunday's game against the Oakland Athletics due to tightness in his right quad. However, he is expected to make his next scheduled start Saturday.

Continue for updates.

---

Hernandez Will Start Saturday 

Wednesday, April 15

Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon confirmed that Hernandez will start Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers, per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.  

Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reported on April 14 that Hernandez appears to be on his way to making his next start Saturday:

"

All signs point to Felix Hernandez making his next scheduled start Saturday against Texas after exiting Sunday’s outing at Oakland after five innings because of tightness in his right quadriceps muscle.

One qualifier: McClendon wants to see Hernandez perform Wednesday in his usual between-starts bullpen workout.

“As we speak right now,” McClendon said, “my plan is to go with Felix (on Saturday). I still want to see his bullpen session.”

"

---

Hernandez Leaves A's Game with Quad Tightness

Sunday, April 12

The Mariners announced Hernandez "was removed for precautionary reasons" against the A's due to "tightness in his right quad."

Before exiting, Hernandez allowed eight hits and three earned runs over five innings.

Hernandez is a past Cy Young Award winner (2010), and he is unquestionably one of the most transcendent pitching talents in baseball. The Mariners haven't been to the playoffs since Hernandez arrived in 2005, though, and they cannot afford to lose him for any prolonged period of time.

Last year's club posted its third winning season during Hernandez's time in the Emerald City, and the stud hurler did his part, posting the second-best WAR of his career at 6.8, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Pitching has been a strength for Seattle as of late. With Hernandez out for the time being, manager Lloyd McClendon still has a number of reliable arms on his staff.

Hisashi Iwakuma won 15 games in 2014 as the Mariners finished second in MLB in team ERA. With a stout bullpen on the back end, it's up to other starters like Iwakuma to pick up the slack if Hernandez misses any scheduled appearances due to injury.