Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez likely out 4-6 weeks

Art or Photo Credit: Gregory Bull

Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez likely will be out four to six weeks with a Grade 1 lat strain, manager Scott Servais said Tuesday.
The Mariners put the struggling right-hander on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Hernandez, a six-time All-Star and the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner, is 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA this season.
He last pitched Saturday, giving up seven runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings as the Mariners lost 9-5 at the Boston Red Sox.
Servais said before Tuesday's home game against the Oakland Athletics that Hernandez won't throw for the next couple of weeks.
Left-hander Wade LeBlanc, coming back from an oblique injury, made a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Tacoma and could take Hernandez's spot in the rotation, Servais said. LeBlanc is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts for the Mariners this season.