Felix Hernandez wasn't sharp Sunday, allowing six runs -- five earned -- over just five innings in a loss to the Indians.
King Kelix recorded eight strikeouts, but he allowed eight hits and walked a pair. The Mariners' ace left his last outing with a back issue, so it's possible it was an issue for him again today. As long as he's healthy, Hernandez is obviously a good bet to bounce back against the Rangers his next time out.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Felix Hernandez is "feeling good" a day after leaving his start against the Yankees early after tweaking his back
Hernandez tweaked his back while fielding a ground ball and turning and throwing to second base in the sixth. He would have come out for the seventh if not for the minor ailment. It's not expected to affect his next start, though. "He's good," Wedge said. "He said it was pretty sore this morning, but he feels good, and [trainer Rick Griffin] felt he got him in a good place after the game last night. He's feeling good today, so we should be fine."

Felix Hernandez struck out eight while tossing six innings of one-run ball but suffered a no-decision in Tuesday's loss to the Yankees.
King Felix gave up just five hits and walked a pair. He had thrown 97 pitches and probably would have continued in the seventh inning if not for what appeared to be a minor leg injury that he suffered in the sixth. It might have cost the M's a win, as the Yanks plated the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh. Assuming the leg ailment is no big deal, Hernandez, who owns a 1.53 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, will face the Indians Sunday.

Felix Hernandez will make his next start Tuesday against the Yankees.
The Mariners had an off-day on Thursday and another one on Monday, so King Felix will move up in the rotation. Hisashi Iwakuma will start Wednesday while Aaron Harang will toe the rubber on Thursday.

Felix Hernandez pitched eight innings of one-run ball to defeat the Pirates on Wednesday.
Tom Wilhelmsen finished the 2-1 game with a scoreless ninth. Hernandez, who moved to 5-2 with a 1.53 ERA, was at just 97 pitches through eight, so it was a little surprising the Mariners didn't leave him in. It makes four times this year in which he's pitched exactly eight innings. He's yet to work into the ninth.

Felix Hernandez dominated the Blue Jays for eight shutout frames in a 4-0 win on Friday.
King Felix was absolutely dealing, as he held the Jays to just five hits (four of them singles) and no walks while striking out seven batters. He has allowed just two earned runs over his last four starts and now owns a brilliant 1.60 ERA and 51/7 K/BB ratio on the year. Hernandez currently lines up to face the Athletics next week at home.

Felix Hernandez pitched eight innings and allowed two runs -- one earned -- in beating the Angels on Saturday.
Chris Iannetta homered for the lone earned run. The other followed an error from catcher Jesus Montero. Hernandez was done after 95 pitches tonight. We wonder if he might not have gone the distance if not for his recent back stiffness.

Felix Hernandez is nursing some minor back stiffness.
It didn't show during Monday's six shutout innings, though it could partly explain why he was pulled from the game relatively early. Unless the injury gets worse over the next few days, King Felix will be fine for his next outing.

Felix Hernandez was denied a win after allowing just an unearned run over eight innings and striking out 12 against the Tigers on Wednesday.
Max Scherzer was just as effective, so the game was tied when Hernandez left. Hernandez came up one shy of matching his career high for strikeouts of 13. It's his ninth start with at least 12 strikeouts.

Felix Hernandez was handed his second straight loss Thursday after he yielded four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings against the Rangers.
King Felix gave up 10 hits, which is more than his first two starts combined. While his diminished velocity has been a concern for some, it was up a tick on Thursday night. He struck out five and walked two in the loss. Hernandez will make his third attempt at career win No. 100 next week against the Tigers.

Felix Hernandez's 2013 season got off to a good start Monday, as he blanked the Athletics while striking out eight over 7 2/3 innings in the 2-0 win.
King Felix permitted just three hits and walked one while throwing 109 pitches. Hernandez went through a mini-scare at the beginning of spring training when it was revealed that he had a minor elbow issue, but he looked great in spring training and it carried over to Opening Day. He'll be a fantasy ace again in 2013.

Felix Hernandez was in dominant form against the Padres on Friday, racking up nine strikeouts while allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings of work.
Hernandez fanned six in a row in the third and fourth innings. He's been virtually untouchable this spring, compiling a 1.64 ERA and 14/1 K/BB ratio over 11 innings of work. It's safe to say that the offseason elbow concerns haven't hindered his ability, and he can safely be drafted as an ace in all fantasy formats.

Felix Hernandez gave up one earned run over three innings Tuesday in a loss to the Diamondbacks.
Hernandez surrendered only one hit -- a solo home run to Eric Hinske -- and struck out three. He issued one walk. The 26-year-old right-hander will probably be allowed to go four innings in his next Cactus League start.

Felix Hernandez gave up one run over two innings in his Cactus League debut Thursday.
He allowed two hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out a pair. The Mariners have eased King Felix into spring training after his pre-extension physical revealed a minor elbow issue, but he's expected to be fine and will take the ball on Opening Day.

Felix Hernandez is scheduled for another live throwing session on Sunday.
The Mariners are calling it a batting practice/simulated game. Hernandez is being eased into spring training, but isn't in any danger of not being ready for Opening Day. If all goes well, he should then be cleared to make his Cactus League debut.

Felix Hernandez won't make his Cactus League debut until the first week of March at the earliest.
After a recent physical revealed some potential elbow issues, the Mariners are playing it safe with their prized right-hander. He'll be eased into spring training action, but will undoubtedly be ready to go for Opening Day.

Felix Hernandez threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Wednesday in Mariners camp.
"I thought he looked free and easy and looked really good for his first time out," manager Eric Wedge said after the workout. "It was nice to see him get off the mound." An MRI taken just before Hernandez inked a record seven-year, $175 million extension revealed some potential issues in the 26-year-old right-hander's pitching elbow. But he is healthy for now and remains a fantasy ace.

Felix Hernandez will throw his first spring training bullpen session on Wednesday.
Questions recently arose about the health of King Felix's right elbow, and his new contract has a clause in it to protect the Mariners in the instance he sustains a specific elbow injury. It's pretty much a non-issue, though, as Hernandez has been on his normal routine this offseason. The M's are just easing him into things. "We just need to get him ready by April," said pitching coach Carl Willis.

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal report that Felix Hernandez's new contract will include an eighth season at $1 million if he sustains a specific elbow injury.
It would indicate that Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik might not have been entirely truthful when he said King Felix received a "clean bill of health" during his pre-signing physical. Morosi and Rosenthal say that Hernandez would have to miss 120-130 days within one season or consecutive seasons in order for the clause to activate.

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said Wednesday that Felix Hernandez got a "clean bill of health" during the pre-signing physical for his $175 million contract extension.
So all that talk about an elbow issue must have been a negotiating ploy. The seven-year, $175 million pact was officially announced on Wednesday afternoon at the Mariners' spring training complex in Arizona. "King Felix" is now the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday that the club has reached agreement with Felix Hernandez on a contract extension.
The final step was a pre-signing physical on Tuesday afternoon. Details of the extension will be formally announced during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, but Hernandez is expected to get five years and $135.5 million added to the two years and $39.5 million he has remaining on his current deal. There was a report over the weekend about a possible elbow issue, but it appears the Mariners simply wanted to add some protective language in the contract.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday that he's hoping the club gets Felix Hernandez's seven-year, $175 million extension done "sooner rather than later."
ESPN's Buster Olney reported over the weekend that an issue with King Felix's elbow was holding up the deal, but it appears the Mariners just want to insert language in the contract to protect themselves again future elbow problems. "We're working and things are going in a positive direction," said Zduriencik. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that the deal could be formally announced within days.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Felix Hernandez's seven-year, $175 million contract extension with the Mariners is "still on track" and could be announced "in next day or two."

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Mariners and Felix Hernandez are still hoping to complete their seven-year, $175 million extension despite an elbow issue that was revealed during Hernandez's physical.
King Felix recently pulled out of the World Baseball Classic, and evidently it was because of the elbow issue. The ailment must be very minor if the two sides are still hoping to get a deal done, but at the very least some added language in the contract will probably be needed. Even if the extension falls apart, Hernandez is still under contract for two more seasons.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that concern over Felix Hernandez's pitching elbow might affect the contract extension he agreed to last week.
Well, that certainly came out of nowhere. It was reported last week that King Felix and the Mariners had a deal in place that would pay him a total of $175 million over the next seven seasons, but evidently a physical he took raised a red flag about an elbow issue. It's not clear at this point whether the extension will be reworked or scrapped altogether, nor is it clear whether the ailment might be serious enough to affect his availability for the start of the season.

Felix Hernandez will not pitch for his native Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Hernandez was included on the provisional roster for Venezuela when it was announced last month, but he has backed out citing his new contract and pressure from the Mariners. King Felix's seven-year, $175 million extension isn't official yet, but it should be soon. While this is a disappointing turn of events for Venezuela, it's no surprise that the Mariners would rather have him in spring training.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Mariners have agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract extension with right-handed starter Felix Hernandez.
The deal -- which truly came out of nowhere -- makes "King Felix" the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. Hernandez was already under contract for $19.5 million in 2013 and $20 million in 2014. Now he'll make an average salary of $25 million through the 2019 season. The 26-year-old registered a 3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 223/56 K/BB ratio in 232 innings last summer for Seattle.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that Felix Hernandez is in no hurry to work out a contract extension with the Mariners.
The Mariners are reportedly interested in adding four years onto the two remaining on Hernandez' current deal, but King Felix is likely to be seeking an additional six years. He's expressed a strong desire to remain a Mariner, but already among the game's elite at 26-years-old, it'll take a record contract for a pitcher to lock him up long term.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners continue to talk to Felix Hernandez about a contract extension and are "at least weighing" a four-year, $100 million offer.
It's not known whether the Mariners have actually made such an offer, as one source described the two sides as "dancing" but not deeply engaged. Hernandez is under contract for two more years for a total of $39.5 million, so if the reported figure is accurate, the total outlay would be $139.5 million over six seasons. This would be in the neighborhood of recent contracts given to Zack Greinke ($147 million) and Cole Hamels ($144 million), so such an offer would serve as a solid starting point in negotiations.