Felix Hernandez Dominated the Red Sox on Monday in Latest Sign He Might Be Back
By Adam Weinrib
One of the worst-kept and most-celebrated secrets of Spring Training has come to a head once again on Monday.
After he dominated the 2018 World Series champion Red Sox, allowing soft contact and whiffing several, it's quite possible to feel very optimistic about Felix Hernandez's chances.
Felix Hernandez: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K. The lone extra-base hit he allowed was a Benintendi double that Inciarte nearly caught after ranging into left field. He's allowed three earned runs while totaling 13.1 IP through four starts. Could make three more spring starts.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 9, 2020
Outside of Andrew Benintendi, the best players in Boston's lineup were Michael Chavis, Jarren Duran, and Jonathan Lucroy, so this wasn't the full outfit of sluggers.
That being said, Hernandez appeared to have lost everything that once made him dominant when he lost a tick off his fastball. His past two seasons were nearly a wash; his command was gone, and his stuff had backslid. His confidence was nonexistant.
Flashback to Felix Hernandez's perfect game ?? pic.twitter.com/KMb36hUHsL
— . (@BigBenRevereGuy) September 27, 2019
Do Spring Training stats matter? Not necessarily. But when you compare Hernandez's 2020 to his 2019, which began with a disastrous 15.95 mark, and finished up with a farewell to Seattle, a 6.40 ERA, and a single win, it's safe to say the 33-year-old is gaining swagger with each start.
At this point, he's a presumptive favorite for the back end of Atlanta's rotation. And why would you kick him out? Very intriguing comeback after a saddening downfall.