Strickland, Felix nearing returns to mound

SEATTLE -- Mariners veteran pitchers Hunter Strickland and Felix Hernandez are expected to start throwing off a mound sometime later this week as they ramp up their rehab programs while returning from injuries.

Strickland opened the season as Seattle’s closer and saved the first two games of the year before straining the lat muscle behind his right shoulder on March 29. The right-hander has been throwing with 100 percent effort in flat-ground sessions the past 10 days and is hopeful of a mid-June return.

Manager Scott Servais didn’t douse that possibility with his assessment on Tuesday.

“I would think he’ll probably need two extended bullpens, a live BP, then certainly get into a few games on a rehab assignment,” Servais said. “Put some days off between there and map that out, it’s probably a couple week workup. Let’s wait and see how he feels when he starts throwing in games.”

The 30-year-old has reported no issues since he started throwing again after being cleared by a specialist in New York three weeks ago. Strickland had rotator cuff surgery in 2011 and Tommy John surgery in 2013 during his Minor League career, so he’s been careful to balance the desire to return with the reality that pushing too fast can cause more problems.

“He’s been around a little bit,” Servais said. “He knows his body really well. You tend to trust the veteran guys a little more. But I’d think once he gets up on a mound, which is probably late this week or this weekend, then it’ll be a couple weeks from that point.”

Hernandez also is dealing with a strained lat muscle, though his issue was less severe than Strickland’s and the initial estimate was he’d be sidelined 4-6 weeks after being pulled after 2 1/3 innings in his last start on May 11 in Boston.

Hernandez is now two weeks into that recovery and is playing catch daily on flat ground without issues.

“I think I’m getting close. I feel good,” Hernandez said. “I just have to keep building and keep building and hopefully I’ll get to the mound soon. I think the next couple days.”

Worth noting

Right fielder Mitch Haniger was given the day off on Tuesday as Servais said the 2018 All-Star needed a break after a rough stretch in which he’s hit just .185/.307/.370 with 37 strikeouts in 108 at-bats over his last 29 games.

“We’ve seen throughout his time here, Mitch has been streaky,” Servais said. “When it’s good, it’s really good, and it’s usually good for extended periods of time. It’s part of the game. We’ve always talked about his swing. It’s got a lot of moving parts and the timing has to be right. I’m not worried about Mitch at all. Just giving him a break today to recharge.”