Seattle Mariners name "King Felix" Hernandez Opening Day starting pitcher

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Seattle Mariners rookie manager Scott Servais on Saturday at the Mariners spring training facility in Peoria Arizona has announced who will be his Opening Day starting pitcher. "King Felix" Hernandez will be his 2016 Opening Day starting pitcher on April 4, 2016 when the Texas Rangers who will enter the next baseball season as the defending American League Western Division champions will be hosting their division rival at Global Life Park in Arlington Texas. Hernandez will be making his eight consecutive Opening Day start. His record as the Mariners Opening Day starts is six wins and zero losses with two no decisions. Servais refers to Hernandez as "a legit no. 1" ace starting pitcher. The Mariners have not made the postseason since the 2001 Major League Baseball season when they won the American League West Division title. Hernandez who made his debut with the Seattle Mariners in the Major Leagues on August 4, 2005 has never pitched one game in the postseason during his tenure in the Major Leagues. Hernandez denies a report from his former coach Andy Van Slyke that he has not fully recovered from a partial tear in his right elbow that may have affected his pitching performance during the 2015 baseball season which ended with 18 wins and nine losses with an earned run average of 3.53.