OAKLAND, Calif. — In the midst of the AL wild-card chase, the Seattle Mariners said Tuesday they will be without starter Felix Hernandez for three to four weeks because of bursitis in his right shoulder.

Hernandez was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday in Kansas City and placed on the disabled list due to discomfort in his pitching arm. He returned to Seattle and was examined by the team doctor.

Marco Gonzales, acquired in a trade with St. Louis last month, took Hernandez’s spot in the rotation. Hernandez is 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts this season. Hernandez missed nearly two months earlier this season because of shoulder inflammation.

ON THE 10TH anniversary of breaking baseball’s all-time home run mark, Barry Bonds said he believes he would have reached 800 homers or come very close if his career hadn’t ended amid steroid allegations and a federal case.

Bonds finished with 762 homers.

“It should have only been nine (years ago). I should have played one more year, I should have had the chance to,” Bonds said. “It’s all right, though. Those 22 were still good. I wish I could have gotten to retire better, or just walk away better, whatever it was, however you want to call it,” he said.

“I was what (38) away from 800? I’d have been real close. I would have never hit under 20-something, no matter what.”

RANGERS-MARINERS: Right-hander Ernesto Frieri was sold by Texas to Seattle for $1.

JOE WEST, the major leagues’ senior umpire, was suspended for three days for comments he made about Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre.

In a USA Today report June 20, West said “it’s got to be Adrian Beltre” when asked who was the biggest complainer in the major leagues.

West was quoted as saying, “I had a game with him recently and the pitch was right down the middle. He tells me, ‘That ball is outside,’ ” West was quoted as saying.

“I told him, ‘You may be a great ballplayer but you’re the worst umpire in the league. You stink.’ “