Maybe it's the new digitial display board inside the Marlins clubhouse. Maybe manager Mike Redmond and his staff haven't yet figured out how to play with the lineup using the device, which is hung from a wall just inside the clubhouse door, the same spot where the handwritten lineup card was traditionally displayed for players to see.
Or maybe Redmond just became tired of changing it night after night, game after game. Tonight, for the first time all season, the Marlins will roll out the same lineup that was used the previous game.
"I sit in there everyday for an hour and try to figure out what I'm going to do," Redmond said. "A lot of it's been the same guys. It's just been different (lineup) positions. I've tried to mix guys around, tried to get them going, and it hasn't really mattered. I think at this point we just go with guys we think fit the best and just let 'er rip. Tomorrow it could be totally different."
In fact, Redmond said Thursday's lineup would be different. Catcher Jeff Mathis, just back from the disabled list, will receive his first start behind the plate. But for one day, anyway, the lineup was the same as the one before it, with rookies Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna batting third and fourth, respectively.
The Marlins trotted out a major league leading 38 different lineups in their first 39 games.
Tonight's lineups:
Marlins: 1. Pierre, lf; 2. Polanco, 3b; 3. Dietrich, 2b; 4. Ozuna, rf; 5. Ruggiano, cf; 6. Dobbs, 1b; 7. Hechavarria, ss; 8. Brantly, c; 9. Sanabia, p.
Reds: 1. Choo, cf; 2. Izturis, ss; 3. Votto, 1b; 4. Phillips, 2b; 5. Bruce, rf; 6. Paul, lf; 7. Hannahan, 3b; 8. Mesoraco, c; 9. Leake, p.
Umpires: HP -- Tichenor; 1B -- Scott; 2B -- Miller; 3B -- Bucknor.
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Redmond said Logan Morrison (right knee) will likely play a couple of more games at extended spring before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment next week. Morrison has started playing some first base up in Jupiter.
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No major developments with Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) who played a little catch on Wednesday but hasn't started jogging yet.
"I'm sure I'll be able to hit way sooner than I'll be able to run," Stanton said.
Stanton said he doubts he'll miss as much time with his hamstring injury as first baseman Casey Kotchman has so far with his. Kotchman has been out since the second game of the season but should start his minor-league rehab assignment within the coming week.
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Christian Yelich went 3 for 6 with a pair of homers and a double on Wednesday for Double A Jacksonville.
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