Felix Hernandez has been scratched from his expected start Wednesday at the Los Angeles Angels because of lower-back pain. Hernandez had received treatment on his back over the weekend and threw for a few minutes on Monday, and told the media initially that he'd be making his start Wednesday. However, it looks like he may have been overruled by the team. King Felix tweaked his back last Friday in a the third inning of a game against the White Sox and ended up throwing five innings and 85 pitches in a no-decision. Eric Wedge commented on the decision to have Felix skip a start:
"He threw just okay today, not to the point where I felt comfortable bringing him back on Wednesday. He is feeling better, but there's no sense in pushing it."
Wedge might be right, because for whatever reason, Felix has actually struggled in his career against the Halos. The 2010 American League Cy Young Award has a 6-10 career record and 3.80 earned run average in 26 career starts against the Angels and has gone 2-5 with a 3.06 ERA in his 13 starts in Angel Stadium. Rushing him back from a lower-back injury to face a team he's struggled with historically might just be asking for trouble.
Hector Noesi will get the start in his place.
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