Mariners Weekly Rundown: Who's Hot & Who's Not

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May 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

King Felix gets Dethroned

Felix Hernandez had an opportunity to overtake Jamie Moyer as the M’s winningest pitcher last week, but he was roughed up by the Oakland A’s. King Felix allowed 8 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits across 4 innings in his lone start of the week. He fanned 1 and walked none en route to taking a no-decison. The A’s hit .409 against Hernandez, which is something Mariners’ fans are not used to seeing.

The 30-year-old perennial Cy Young candidate has not been his usual dominant self in 2016. His numbers (2-2, 2.21 ERA) are excellent, but his stuff has been subpar. Hernandez’s velocity is noticeably down, and he has been throwing more breaking balls in an attempt to compensate. However, that has led to far more walks (18) this season than we are used to seeing out of the King.

Hernandez will get another shot to surpass Moyer tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Many of Felix’s best games have come against the light hitting Rays (his perfect game), so hopefully he can get the job done tonight.

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