MLB News: Felix Hernandez, Fernando Rodney Powering Seattle Mariners to AL Wild Card Spot
The 2014 Major League Baseball season is winding down, and with less than eight games remaining, time is running out for multiple teams to make their final playoff push.
One of the teams that is in the mix is the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are currently 83-73, just two games behind the Kansas City Royals for the final wild card spot.
The biggest reason the Mariners have found success this season is because of their pitching staff.
The Mariners have the lowest opponent batting average against at just .231. Their teams ERA average of 3.18 ranks No. 2 in all of baseball behind just the Washington Nationals. Much of the reason the Mariners' pitching has been among the elite this season is because of Felix Hernandez and Fernando Rodney.
Felix Hernandez ranks second in baseball with a 2.07 ERA. Only Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers has a better ERA. Hernandez has played his entire 10-year career with the Mariners and is one of the most underrated pitchers in the game. His 14-5 record this year gives him double-digit victories for the sixth consecutive season. Hernandez also ranks fourth overall in total strikeouts with 236.
There's a good chance Hernandez will win his second American League Cy Young Award. His first came in 2010.
The Mariners also benefit from having the best relief pitcher in all of baseball. Dominican-born pitcher Fernando Rodney leads the majors in saves with 46. This is Rodney's first season with the Mariners, and he has adjusted well. This is his third consecutive season with at least 35 saves.
Rodney won the 2012 Delivery Man of the Year Award for being the best closer in the league. Only Panama's own Mariano Rivera has won the award three times. Rodney's famous "bow and arrow" celebration has become one of the best celebrations in sports. As soon as Rodney gets that final out, he reaches for the sky and slings that invisible arrow.
Historically speaking, Latin American baseball players have done significantly better at the plate than on the mound. Players such as Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols and Roberto Clemente are just a few notables. However, this Mariners team has excelled better than ever with Latin American pitchers. Even Cuban-born pitcher Roenis Elias has racked up 10 wins for the team this season.
Dominican-born hitter Robinson Cano leads the team in hits, runs and triples.
The Mariners record of 83-73 puts them just two games out of a wild card spot behind the Royals. The Mariners' final six games will be played against the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels have the best record in baseball, so this won't be an easy task. The Mariners are two games ahead of the New York Yankees. Incredibly, the Mariners have a better road record (45-33) than home record (38-40) this year.
Rodney and Hernandez have combined to be the best starter and closer in baseball this season, but a lack of scoring may keep the Mariners from playing in October.
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