Urena out at least two months

Right-handed starter transferred to injured list with herniated disc

MIAMI — After placing Jose Urena on the 10-day injured list earlier this week, the Marlins were hopeful the right-hander would be able to return after a brief absence.

Unfortunately for Miami, Urena will be on the mend much longer than hoped for.

On Friday, the Marlins transferred the 27-year-old pitcher to the 60-day IL after an MRI revealed a herniated disc. Urena was initially diagnosed with a lower back strain. Miami’s Opening Day starter, Urena has posted a 4.70 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 13 starts this season.

“Obviously, that’s not the news we wanted to hear,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We’ll get him taken care of and get him back on track.”

The Marlins expect Urena to come off the injured list in August.

The news comes at an especially inopportune time for the Marlins, whose starting rotation has recently been dinged by injuries. Last week, Miami placed Caleb Smith on the 10-day IL with left hip inflammation.

The sudden rotation turnover has been a 180 from its early-season consistency.

Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Miami was the last team to have the same starting rotation since the start of the season. Miami

called up Elieser Hernandez and Jordan Yamamoto to fill the two holes in the rotation.

Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Hernandez went 5 2⁄3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out seven. On Wednesday night, Yamamoto was sensational, tossing seven shutout innings versus the Cardinals.

Urena’s absence deprives the Marlins’ young rotation of their workhorse atop the rotation. In the previous two seasons, he’s provided the team a consistent innings-eater, making 28 and 31 starts, respectively.

“He’s definitely been the guy you know what you’re getting for the most part when he pitches,” Mattingly said. “[The] younger guys have really been consistent, so we’re hoping that we continue on with what we’re doing. It really hasn’t been been one guy. They’ve all really thrown the ball well at times and consistency’s been getting better.”

Despite the team’s 24-42 record, the Marlins rotation has impressed through the first third of the season. Miami’s starters, which also include Trevor Richards, Pablo Lopez and Sandy Alcantara, have posted a 3.82 ERA — seventh-best in baseball.

After a slow start to the season, Urena provided a reliable presence on the mound, pitching at least six innings in his next nine starts. In eight of those appearances, he allowed two or fewer runs. The righthander was hammered in his last outing, allowing six runs on 11 hits in three innings versus the Atlanta Braves.

With Urena missing the next two months, the Marlins will have a decision to make in filling his rotation spot. If Smith returns quickly, Miami will have potentially three players in the mix for that role — Hernandez, Yamamoto and Zac Gallen.

The 23-year-old Gallen has dominated Triple-A this season, notching a 1.57 ERA, .70 WHIP and 33.4% strikeout rate. The righthander has also posted a paltry 5.1% walk rate. Gallen isn’t on the 40-man roster, meaning the team would have to remove a player and risk losing them to clear space for him. Hernandez and Yamamoto were already on the 40-man prior to their promotions.

“I think [Gallen] understands and we’ve talked to him and his representatives,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “They understand how we have to manage our roster.

“I think they all know it’s a matter of time for him and he needs to continue doing what he’s doing and be ready when that time comes.”