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Felix Hernandez won't get Opening Day nod for Mariners

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Seattle Mariners have informed Felix Hernandez that he won't be the team's starter when it kicks off the season in Japan nor will he pitch on traditional Opening Day.

The 32-year-old six-time All-Star told Marly Rivera of ESPN that he is "extremely disappointed" by the news but that he understood the decision after his poor season in 2018.

"I am disappointed, but I understand (the decision)," Hernandez said. "I did not have a good year last year, so I understand that part. But only that part. It hurts me because of all the years that I've been here, but that's the way baseball is. This is a business."

Mariners manager Scott Servais told Hernandez he will be pitching on March 17 or March 18 in one of the team's exhibition games in Japan against the Yomiuri Giants, according to Rivera.

Hernandez is also slated to start against the Los Angeles Angels on April 1 but won't face the Oakland Athletics on March 20 or the Boston Red Sox on March 28.

The former American League Cy Young award winner became just the seventh pitcher in MLB history to make 10 straight Opening Day starts when he took to the mound for Seattle's first game of 2018 vs. the Cleveland Indians.

Hernandez has pitched his entire career with the Mariners, posting a 168-128 record with a 3.34 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 2,658 innings with Seattle. However, "King Felix" went just 8-14 with a 5.18 FIP in 28 starts in 2018.

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