Nicolino is removed from the starting rotation.
Lefty headed for bullpen; Koehler could be option
MIAMI Change is coming to the Miami Marlins’ rotation.
Left-hander Just in Nicolino has been moved to the bullpen, manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday, and the team will need someone to make a start in his stead Saturday in Milwaukee. Righty Tom Koehler, a starting-five staple until his demotion to Triple-A New Orleans this month, is an option.
“He’s an option. Anyone in our system is an option,” Mattingly said, exaggerating just a tad. “It’s hard to announce moves when you haven’t done them yet.”
Koehler was listed as New Orleans’ probable starter for Thursday. Him getting scratched would point to a return to the majors.
In two games for New Orleans since coming off the disabled list, Koehler has tossed 12 innings and allowed one run, striking out 14 and walking four.
That represents an improvement over his major league numbers this year. Koehler had a 7.04 ERA and 1.64 WHIP through May 16, which is when he landed on the DL for about a month with right shoulder bursitis.
“He’s been good,” Mattingly said.
Lefty Adam Conley, also sent to New Orleans after big league struggles, pitched Tuesday and wouldn’t be ready for a start Saturday. He has had trouble since his demotion, posting a 6.70 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in nine starts.
Nicolino was actually available in relief Tuesday, but he wasn’t needed. In five big league starts — though no more than two consecutive turns in the rotation — he has a 4.95 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He allowed three runs (two earned) in four innings against the Cubs on Saturday.
The Marlins liked what they saw from Nicolino during a stint in the bullpen late last season, when he had a 1.04 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in five appearances — four of them lasting more than one inning, a quality Miami likes in its middle relievers.
“Alittle better,” Mattingly said of Nicolino as a reliever. “He made some good starts last year too. He was more aggressive out of the ‘pen I thought. His stuff played a tick up.”
Also benefiting from the rotation tweak is Edinson Volquez, who will start on normal rest despite the team’s off day Monday.
“He seems to be better with regular rest,” Mattingly said. “The extra day, a lot of guys like it. Volky prefers to stay on turn, so we’re going to try that with him, hopefully get him more consistent.”
Realmuto rests
J.T. Realmuto’s absence from the Marlins’ lineup Wednesday had nothing to do with the finger he jammed Tuesday night, he said. It was just a normal day of rest, as rare as those have been for the Marlins’ starting catcher this season.
The team has ridden the 26-year-old Realmuto hard, playing him in 65 of 75 games entering Wednesday. Mattingly acknowledged that he can’t keep up that pace.
“It’s just trying to pick and choose the best days for him to get him rest, knowing you have to do it,” Mattingly said. “You can’t play him every day. Just not the position you can do it.”
Chen’s long road back
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is slowly building up after weeks of rest and a platelet-rich plasma injection into his left elbow last month. He has been throwing, but isn’t close to getting back on a mound, Mattingly said.
“It’s a long process,” Mattingly said.