Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Bullpen hit again as Tazawa goes on the DL.
Marlins demote Koehler to Triple-A
MIAMI — Less than 25 percent of the season has passed, yet the Marlins’ pitching rotation is already in disarray.
With the surprising demotion of veteran righthander Tom Koehler following Tuesday night’s 12-2 loss to the Astros, the Marlins have now sent twofifths of their projecting opening-day starting rotation to Triple-A.
Last week, the Marlins sent down struggling lefty Adam Conley (2-3, 7.53 ERA) after he had given up 18 earned runs and walked nine over 10 innings in his previous three starts.
Koehler (1-3, 7.04 ERA) was smacked around for eight runs, including his team-leading 10th home run allowed, in three innings Tuesday.
Koehler, 30, entered the season as Miami’s No. 3 starter. He’s the Marlins’ players union representative and has been a workhorse in the rotation since 2013, amassing a 36-50 record in 128 starts. He’s confident he will fix his mechanics and make a speedy return.
“I’ll try to make this stint as short as possible,’’ a visibly upset Koehler said late Tuesday night. “I’ve thrown a lot of innings in the big leagues. I’ve had success.
“I know what needs to be done but this wasn’t getting it done. I have to find a way to get back to myself. If the team is to get where it wants to get to I need to be part of that. I have to find a way to right the ship.
“I’ve dealt with adversity my whole baseball career. That doesn’t stop now. I truly believe I belong in the big leagues.’’
On Wednesday, the Marlins learned via an MRI that lefty Wei-Yin Chen suffered no new structural damage in his left elbow, though he’s still dealing with discomfort. Chen has been on the disabled list since May 5 and there is no timetable for his return.
“According to the MRI, they didn’t see any obvious problems,” Chen said through his interpreter, adding he may seek a second opinion.
That leaves first-year Marlins Edinson Volquez and Dan Straily as the only remaining starters from the season-opening rotation, and they’re a combined 1-8.
Manager Don Mattingly said the Marlins have decided that they won’t shift middle reliever David Phelps back to starter like they did last season unless they intend keep him there.
“That would be, obviously, something that would be under consideration,” Mattingly said, “but the thing we’ve talked about with him is not bouncing him around, back and forth.”
So the door is open for young hurlers Jose Urena, who pitched well Wednesday, and Justin Nicolino to hold onto spots in the rotation.
More roster moves
Before Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros, the Marlins made a series of transactions that included recalling righthanded reliever Brian Ellington and right-hander
Odrisamer Despaigne ,a potential long-reliever, from Triple-A New Orleans.
Struggling right-handed reliever Junichi Tazawa was placed on the 10-day DL with rib cartilage inflammation. He got rocked for a grand slam in Monday’s 7-2 loss to the Astros and is nursing a careerworst 6.60 ERA.
The Marlins also swapped utility infielders, designating Mike Aviles for assignment and activating Christian Colon, who was claimed off waivers from Kansas City on Tuesday.