Mattingly: ‘Good idea’ about rotation
JUPITER — Marlins manager and his coaching staff have written out the pitching rotation, but only with a pencil.
On Thursday, Mattingly said the team had “a good idea” how the rotation would pan out but did not divulge who the five pitchers would be. The Marlins already announced as the Opening Day starter, and No. 2 is currently sidelined with right forearm inflammation.
After that, it’s a host of names battling for position: there to be a guy that’s quality for us.” Right-hander
started in Turner’s place. Neidert was one of three players (along with right-hander and infielder
the Marlins acquired from Seattle for
After Turner played catch on Thursday — “We’ll see how that drains him, or how he handles that,” Mattingly said — the team would decide how to move forward with him.
Mattingly did not say if Turner locked up a spot in the Marlins rotation but hinted that the team didn’t need to see him pitch again to decide his fate.
“The one thing we probably don’t want to do is get where we push him a little early,” Mattingly said. “At this point, he’s ready. At this point, he either is or isn’t, right? It’s not about the last time to throws a baseball.”
Time is running out for the Marlins to finalize the rotation. The club has just three more days of spring training and is a week away from opening the season at Marlins Park against the Chicago Cubs.
Smith was slated to start Friday night against Washington in likely his last chance to impress the coaching staff.
“We think we have a pretty good idea how we want to run our first couple weeks,” Mattingly said. “You’ll know more here in a couple of days here.”
As for the team’s injury status, infielder (shoulder) worked out Thursday, one day after he was scratched from his spring-training debut. Mattingly said Riddle had “trouble getting loose” on Wednesday.
Riddle said he was still targeting Opening Day as a return date.
“It’s feeling all right,” Riddle said. “It’s almost growing pains trying to come back from being off so long. Just getting the muscles cranking and getting them used to everyday things. Amped up everything for a few days. It got a little sore on me, so just playing it safe.”
Straily is in the middle of a no-throw program to allow inflammation in his forearm to settle.
“He’s doing everything but throw a baseball right now,” Mattingly said. “He’s good to do pretty much everything besides pick up a ball.” Meanwhile, catcher
(back bruise) was “doing more and more,” Mattingly said, as he targets an Opening Day return.
“I think he’s going to do some running today or jogging, however you want to categorize it,” Mattingly said. “See if that banging does anything to him. But he’s getting better and better.”