Team shuffle keeps going

MIAMI — It is difficult to keep up with Team Upheaval, aka the Miami Marlins, without a scorecard even before the games begin.

Here are the key developments Tuesday before the first pitch was thrown at Marlins Park:

Left-hander Adam Conley was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, the third starter subtracted from the starting rotation in the past week.

Manager Don Mattingly unveiled a radical lineup with Dee Gordon, the usual leadoff hitter, in the No. 9 spot, catcher J.T. Realmuto moving to the top of the lineup, and pitcher Dan Straily batting eighth.

Versatile infielder Miguel Rojas went on the 60-day disabled with a broken thumb that will be operated on Friday.

Third baseman Martin Prado said that his latest hamstring strain is a Grade 2, affirming he will be out for an extended period. He missed a month with a Grade 1 strain of the same hamstring (right) that occurred during the World Baseball Classic in February.

Infielder Tyler Moore and catcher Tomas Telis joined the team from New Orleans to beef up a depleted bench.

Hot-hitting left fielder Marcell Ozuna was in the lineup Tuesday despite having his right hamstring tighten in the ninth

inning the previous night.

Adios, Adam, for now

The demotion of Conley came as no surprise after a series of poor outings. The left-hander had a 15.19 ERA over his past three starts during which he gave up 21 runs (18 earned) in10 2⁄3 innings.

His fate was sealed Monday when he allowed seven runs in 3 2⁄3 innings, four of them coming on two hits by Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez.

“It just wasn’t good enough. He had a couple of good outings. But in general it hasn’t been good enough, and that’s basically what we said,” said Mattingly, adding that this doesn’t close the door on Conley, who showed promise last season.

“This gives him an opportunity to get it together and get himself back on track.”

Mattingly reiterated that Jose Urena (six shutout innings Sunday) will remain in the rotation and is scheduled to start Friday against the Braves.

Edinson Volquez (blister) and Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) will each throw a bullpen session today to gauge whether they are ready to come off the DL. Volquez may start Saturday and Chen could be slotted back into the rotation next week. With an off-day Thursday, he wouldn’t be needed until Tuesday.

“We’ll get a lot of answers tomorrow with those two ’pens ,” Mattingly said.

Lineup flip-flop

Matttingly said he is not a big fan of having the starting pitcher bat in the No. 8 spot, but that he is going with it in the interest of getting his most productive bats at the top of the order.

“It gives [Realmuto] the extra at-bat. If the game’s on the line, a one-run game, I’ve got a guy up there that can hit a ball in the seats and a guy that’s been swinging the bat good for the most part all year long,” Mattingly said.

Realmuto came into Tuesday with a slash line of .317/.360/.442. Although catchers are a rarity batting leadoff, he had 26 previous starts there and was hitting .339 in the No. 1 spot.

While Gordon has the speed and base-stealing prowess that is desired in leadoff hitters, the 2015 batting champ was hitting only .262 with a .316 onbase percentage. In seven games this month his average was a paltry .179, and he had walked only six times in 136 plate appearances this season.

“I just want to win. If that’s what’s going to help out, I’m all for it,” Gordon said. Straily joined Dontrelle Willis and David Phelps as the only Marlins starting pitchers to bat anywhere but ninth. It was the sixth time it has happened, with Phelps most recently batting eighth in 2015. Willis batted seventh and eighth in 2005.

Mattingly said the groundwork for the revamped lineup began when Christian Yelich moved into the No. 2 spot after Prado was hurt, with Ozuna taking his place at No. 3.

Tough break

Rojas said he was feeling discomfort in his right thumb throughout the weekend series in New York, then felt a pop when he checked his swing during the first inning Sunday. He said the bone is broken and dislocated, which will be corrected with surgery.

Rojas said he was told the recovery will take six to eight weeks, and he will then begin working toward a return in August.

Conley