ARLINGTON -- Mariners ace Felix Hernandez continues getting treatment for his strained right calf in Seattle, but there's no timetable yet on when the 30-year-old might return to action, manager Scott Servais said Sunday.
Hernandez is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list next Sunday, which would line him up to face the Rangers, the team Seattle is fighting for the American League West lead. But Servais said Hernandez hasn't begun throwing again yet and indicated it's unlikely he'll be ready to return that quickly.
"Fingers crossed," Servais said. "But he may miss a couple [starts], we'll see."
Servais said Hernandez's calf is improving, according to reports from the training staff in Seattle.
"He felt a little better yesterday," Servais said. "He's not throwing or anything like that yet. He's working out in the pool and trying to get his legs under him a little bit. He's moving slow at this point, which is pretty much what everybody expected.
"When you pull something like that, it takes a while and then when it starts to feel better, you're good to go pretty quick. I'll be curious to see how he is when we get home."
James Paxton has made one start in place of Hernandez and allowed 10 hits and eight runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings against the Padres. He'll get his second shot in Monday's series opener against the Indians.
Hernandez injured his calf during pregame work on Tuesday and was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday in San Diego. The DL stint was made retroactive to May 28, the day after his last start.
The six-time All-Star is 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts. This is just his third time on the DL in his 12-year career and the first since 2008.