MLB notes: Rockies’ Nolan Arenado misses another game because of shoulder pain

Colorado’s Nolan Arenado was held out of Saturday night’s starting lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a right shoulder strain, though the Rockies remain hopeful the injury won’t result in a trip to the disabled list for their power-hitting third baseman.

“He got looked at by our medical staff. They all seem to think that this is something minor,” manager Bud Black said. “Hopefully this resolves itself quickly where he can get back on the diamond as an infielder. I suspect that this is not anything that’s going to last too long. I think it’s going to be manageable.”

Arenado was lifted from Friday night’s game in the fifth inning after it became too painful to use his right arm to throw the ball. Black said the All-Star would continue to dress for games and could be called on to pinch hit if needed, though he remains day to day as far as returning to the infield.

Arenado, 27, is hitting .307 with 29 home runs and 82 RBIs this season.

In the clubhouse before the game, Arenado told reporters that his shoulder is still “a little sore. Hopefully, (Sunday) it feels better and we’ll go from there.”

The five-time Gold Glove winner tweaked the shoulder turning a double play in the third inning Friday against the Dodgers. He believes several throws in previous games in which he didn’t get his legs under his throws also may have contributed to the injury.

“It doesn’t really hurt doing anything besides throwing the baseball, like extending on the ball,” Arenado said. “It is affecting my throwing for sure. I can’t go out there if it’s going to affect my throwing.”

King Felix vows return to rotation

Felix Hernandez vowed that his first-ever stint in Seattle’s bullpen won’t last long.

“I’ll be a starter before the end of the year,” Hernandez said. “No question about it.”

The struggling Mariners ace has made 398 career starts in 14 seasons, never once pitching in relief. He was bumped from the rotation on Thursday night, the latest setback in a tough year in which he has a career-high 5.73 ERA and is 0-4 in his last five starts.

For the longtime face of this franchise, it was difficult to digest the team’s decision to have him pitch in relief and he said it took him a couple of days to come to terms with it. Conversations with family and friends and encouragement from his wife Sandra, who he has been with since he was 14, helped.

“My wife is here. She flew here,” Hernandez said. “We had a good conversation. And she told me: `Just go out there and be the leader that you’ve been all these years. Be you. Be you.“’

The 32-year-old Hernandez is 8-10 with a 5.73 ERA in 23 starts for a Mariners team chasing a playoff spot.