Marlins dealing with a crowded starting rotation

MIAMI — At the beginning of the week, the Miami Marlins had too few starting pitchers. Now, they have too many.

With Dan Straily’s return from a five-game suspension on Sunday afternoon, combined with Jose Ureña’s likely activation from the disabled list in the middle of next week, the Marlins have seven starters for five rotation spots. The club also recently recalled top pitching prospect Sandy Alcantara to start Friday and highly regarded Pablo Lopez to debut on Saturday.

“We’ve got some decisions to make after that,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Saturday.

The Marlins are in a stretch of 20 consecutive days with games, without an off-day to aid in shuffling the crowded rotation. Instead, for the time being, Mattingly said the Marlins would keep their pitchers on five days rest as Miami waits for Ureña.

Ureña (right shoulder impingement) threw a bullpen session on Friday afternoon and will throw a light “touch and feel” bullpen session today. He’s technically eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list today, but Mattingly said the Marlins aren’t considering a start prior to Tuesday at the earliest.

“Just get his touch back with his breaking stuff, his changeup and things like that,” Mattingly said. “And then kind of schedule him in.”

As it stands now, Wei-Yin Chen will likely pitch Monday against the Rays, and Trevor Richards could follow him on Tuesday.

Mattingly said Elieser Hernandez would move back to the bullpen as the rotation crowds, but when is unknown. Hernandez threw 76 pitches in a start Tuesday night, and has swung between the rotation and the bullpen this season. He’s made five starts and seven relief appearances. As a Rule 5 draft pick, Hernandez must stay in the major leagues (or on the disabled list) the entire season or be offered back Houston.

Earlier this season, Mattingly said the team was monitoring innings pitched by Hernandez and Jarlin Garcia, shuffling them between being a starter and a reliever to cap their use. But he said there wasn’t a concern with Alcantara and Richards’ workload.

Infielder Miguel Rojas was out of the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Mets, dealing with a lingering hand injury. Mattingly said Rojas could have played, but he opted to give him a day to heal.

Mattingly also said the injury would likely be something Rojas deals with moving forward, though a disabled list stint is unlikely.

“We know he’s going to deal with a little bit of hand soreness as he goes along,” Mattingly said. “This thing’s just not going to go away. I’m going to try to get him a day now and then. More a day to give him a little bit of a breather.”

Outfielder and first baseman Garrett Cooper and third baseman Martin Prado could rejoin the Marlins before the All-Star break on July 15, Mattingly said. Cooper (right wrist contusion) and Prado (left hamstring strain) are in the minors for rehabilitation assignments.

Cooper is slashing .385/.467/.538 in nine games spent across High-A Jupiter and Triple-A New Orleans while playing first base and left field. Prado has played three games at third base for Jupiter, going 2 for 7.