The Seattle Mariners are surging and it looks like their long-time ace is starting to pitch back to form. With Saturday night's win over the Brewers, the Mariners moved to 66-56 on the season. They've won 14 of their last 18 games and are within one game of the second AL wild card. Perhaps more importantly, Felix Hernandez might be back to King Felix form.
In the 8-2 win on Saturday, Hernandez allowed two runs in eight innings. It equaled his longest outing of the season and he struck out eight. In his last three starts, Hernandez has a 2.08 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
The strikeout rate is big. Earlier this year, there were reasons for concern with his low strikeout rate. In a five-start span from April 16-May 9, he only struck out 17 (with 13 walks) in 30 2/3 innings. Hernandez later hit the disabled list and missed nearly two months. In his first several games back, he was hit hard at times, lost command at times and wasn't missing a ton of bats.
These last three outings, though, have started to look more like vintage King Felix.
''He's rounding into Felix form, no doubt,'' Mariners manager Scott Servais said afterward (Associated Press). ''He's having fun. He's healthy. He feels good about where he's at. He's got some bullets left in his arm, having been out as long as he has. He's still fresh.''
Speaking of the freshness, the time missed to injury could actually be a blessing in disguise. Hernandez is now 30 and has logged 2,372 2/3 innings on his arm. That's an awful lot of mileage. He started to show signs of regression -- likely age-related -- last season and then earlier this year. It shouldn't be too surprising. Father Time is undefeated, after all. Still, Hernandez isn't overly old and has plenty left in the tank. That's why these past several outings have to be so encouraging as the Mariners make a playoff push.
''His last two starts, he's just getting stronger and stronger,'' catcher Mike Zunino said Saturday night (AP). ''He's finding his rhythm, his command's great, he's doing a great job throwing the ball inside to both lefties and righties and that's opening everything up. And, his change-up's getting very close to what it was.''
Since Hernandez's return from the DL, the Mariners have won six of his seven starts (the one loss that was ridiculous Cubs' comeback on Sunday night baseball). Moving forward, that kind of winning pace bodes very well for the Mariners as they look to be this season's drought-breaker.
Remember, three years ago, the Pirates broke the longest winning-season drought in professional sports history and made the playoffs. Two year ago, the Royals broke the longest playoff drought in the majors. Last season, the Blue Jays did the same. Now the team with the longest playoff drought is the Mariners. Is it their turn?
If Felix Hernandez keeps pitching like King Felix, that'll go a long way toward making it happen.
