Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez out 4-6 weeks with lat strain

The Seattle Mariners are going to have to get by without Felix Hernandez for a while.

The team announced that the veteran starter sustained a Grade 1 lat strain during a rough outing against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, and is expected to be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks.

Hernandez, who is in his 15th season with the franchise, is struggling again this year after a horrible 2018 campaign. The former Cy Young Award winner has posted a 1-4 record, 6.52 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in eight starts and 38.2 innings pitched so far this season.

Right-hander Wade LeBlanc is likely to return to the rotation from injury to take Hernandez’s place on the roster after a successful rehab start with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Monday. He had made just three starts this season before spending significant time on the injured list with a strained right oblique.