For the first time since 2008, someone other than Felix Hernandez will start on Opening Day for the Seattle Mariners.
On Sunday, King Felix spoke for the first time since Mariners manager Scott Servais announced Saturday that Marco Gonzales would get the starting nod for Seattle's March 20 opener in Japan, admitting that he was upset with the decision, according to Jake Seiner of The Associated Press.
However, the end of Hernandez's run of 10 consecutive Opening Day starts didn't surprise the right-hander, as he added that he "knew it was going to happen."
The 2010 American League Cy Young award winner hasn't pitched well over the past three seasons and recorded a career-high 5.55 ERA in 2018, which included a brief trip to the bullpen in August.
Hernandez's struggles have continued in spring training, as he's posting a 15.95 ERA after allowing seven earned runs against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
Servais admitted on Saturday that the decision to start someone other than Hernandez on Opening Day was tough, but said it was best for the team.
"Certainly respect," Servais explained of Hernandez's streak coming to an end. "It was a tremendous run, and he's done awesome things. I just think where we're at right now organizationally and where he's at, he wants to have a big year and this does give him more time to prepare for his first regular-season start.
"But that doesn't make it any easier. But again, we try to take as much of the emotion out of it as you can and do what's best for our ballclub."
Since arriving in the majors, Hernandez is the owner of 168 career wins, a 3.34 ERA, and 2,467 strikeouts in 2,658 innings pitched.
The 32-year-old is in the final season of a seven-year, $175-million contract extension he signed with the Mariners in 2013.