Mariners skipper Scott Servais got this decision out of the way quickly, naming ace right-hander Felix Hernandez his Opening Day starter on Saturday afternoon before one of the club’s first official workouts of the spring. Seattle kicks off the 2016 regular season April 4 at Texas.
“It’s huge. It’s everything,” Servais told Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. “Everybody is always talking about the No. 1 starter. We have a legit No. 1 starter.”
King Felix will be making his eighth straight Opening Day start, and his ninth overall for the Mariners. He is 6-0 with a 1.49 ERA over his last eight.
“Felix has never thrown a pitch in the playoffs,” Servais added. “And it’s time. We have a lot of work to do to get there. He knows that as well. But for a player to have that kind of career and to not have pitched in the playoffs yet ... It’s up to us to make sure we get the pieces around him. And it up to him to help pull a few guys along with him. It’s going to be a joint effort.”
