The Marlins have yet to announce what they’re going to do with their starting rotation beyond Thursday’s series finale against the Cardinals, but here are at least two things we learned on Tuesday: the team plans on activating Jarred Cosart from the disabled list soon – possibly as early as Thursday – and rookie Justin Nicolino will make at least one more start.
“You look what Nico did the other day [tossing seven shutout innings in Cincinnati], he certainly pitched good enough to earn another start… definitely he’ll get another start,” manager Dan Jennings said before Tuesday’s series opener against St. Louis at Marlins Park.
"[Cosart] had a nice outing [Sunday]. He [threw 104] pitches, walked six, which is a little more than we wanted. But he threw the ball very well. He too utilized all of his pitches and made sure that he had quite a few changeups and a lot of curveballs – some very good curveballs. So I think you could look to see him to be activated Thursday."
Cosart, though, could be headed to the bullpen.
As it stands, the Marlins have Mat Latos and Dan Haren scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday, and Jennings said Tom Koehler, who missed his last start Saturday with a sore neck opening the door for Nicolino, would start on Friday against the Dodgers.
If that’s the case, that leaves Nicolino, David Phelps and rookie Jose Urena (Tuesday’s starter) as starting options for Saturday and Sunday.
> Jose Fernandez, scheduled to make one more rehab start Saturday for Double A Jacksonville, had his most impressive rehab start yet Monday for Single A Jupiter. He gave up four hits and one earned run over seven innings, walked one and struck out nine. He threw 90 pitches and fell great afterward.
“From everything that we were told and the way Jose punctuated it in my office it was very impressive,” Jennings said. “Not only the fact that he stretched himself out to that 90 pitch mark, but also the quality of what he did. To hear him talk about the quickness and the depth of his curveball was huge and the fact that he used the change up as much as he did. He’s working towards July 2nd, he’s utilizing all his pitches to get there. If the confidence factor is anything to do with it, he’s real close to ready.”
> Jennings said it still looks like third baseman Martin Prado (right shoulder) will be coming off the disabled list as scheduled. He slated to come off when the Giants come to town for a three-game set June 30. “Until he goes out and tests it we truly won't know,” Jennings said. “But the range of motion is going well so that’s step No. 1 before he tests it with throwing.”
> First baseman Michael Morse, shipped up to Triple A on Monday, could be coming off the disabled list soon Jennings said. Morse hit a home run Sunday for Double A Jacksonville and drove in three runs.
“He had like five hits over those [last] three games,” Jennings said. “We thought we’d take him to the next level. He should be getting real close now. It’s just a matter of him getting the at bats and getting the timing.”
> So why didn’t the Marlins call on Nicolino earlier this season?
"It was a case where we’ve tried to slow down the clock on when these guys arrive," Jennings said. "It was very important for us to give he and Urena that full year last year in Double A and try to get them through as much as we could this year in Triple A. I don’t know that there is a true timetable, it’s just about taking advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself."
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