MLB Team Report – Miami Marlins – INSIDE PITCH
Mark Buehrle makes his next start Saturday in Washington. How many more he makes after that could determine whether he reaches the 200-inning mark for the 12th consecutive season.
The Marlins are using a six-man rotation to give looks to rookies Jacob Turner and Nathan Eovaldi. But that strategy means Buehrle and fellow veterans Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco will make one fewer start.
If Buehrle gets four more starts, he’d need to average seven innings over those starts to reach the milestone. He goes into Saturday with 173 2/3 innings.
“I talked to Buehrle about it,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He says he wants to have 200 innings. If we’ve got seven innings from Buehrle, that means we’re winning the game.”
For now, Guillen is sticking with the six-man rotation. But if Guillen scraps the plan, then Buerhle could get another start.
This is Buehrle’s first year in the National League after spending the first part of his career with the Chicago White Sox.
“The National League is harder than the American League to get to those 200 innings,” Guillen said. “I said that early. The worst thing about the National League is getting used to taking my pitcher out at 70 pitches when we’re down by one run in the sixth.”
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MLB Team Report – Miami Marlins – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Josh Johnson finally snapped the longest winning drought of his career, allowing two runs in seven innings Thursday in Miami’s 6-2 win over Milwaukee. He had dropped four straight starts and was winless over six starts dating to his last win, Aug. 3 against Washington.
–RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo had successful Tommy John surgery Thursday morning, performed by Dr. James Andrews.
Oviedo, formerly known as Leo Nunez, served an eight-week MLB suspension for identity fraud, then made two rehab appearances for Class A Jupiter in July before being transferred to Class AAA New Orleans to face more experienced hitters. He faced three hitters in New Orleans before being pulled because of elbow problems. That means Oviedo was paid about half of the $6 million contract he signed with the Marlins but pitched in just three minor league games.
He is a free agent at the end of the season but likely will not pitch again until 2014. Oviedo saved 92 games for the Marlins from 2009-11.
–2B Donovan Solano had his first three-hit game of September after starting off the month 4-for-22 over the first five games. He hit .302 in August.
–C John Buck has been making the most of his at-bats lately even though he is losing playing time to rookie catcher Rob Brantly. Buck is batting just .201 on the season, but he goes into Friday hitting .323 (21 for 65) since August.
–The Marlins face Stephen Strasburg on Friday in what might be the second-to-last start of the season for the Washington right-hander. Miami pounded him for seven runs on nine hits in five innings just nine days ago at Marlins Park. The runs and hits allowed were season highs for Strasburg.
BY THE NUMBERS: 18,707 — The attendance at Marlins Park for a 12:40 p.m. start Thursday — the smallest crowd since the park opened in April and the first crowd under 22,000.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He started the season very rough because he hadn’t pitched in awhile. After that he got the momentum going. You look up and he’s had a great year if you look at it that way, compared to last year.” — Manager Ozzie Guillen on RHP Josh Johnson
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MLB Team Report – Miami Marlins – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–CF Emilio Bonifacio (right knee sprain) left the Aug. 21 after one inning. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 22. He said he hurt the knee planting his leg while making a throw from the outfield. He said on Sept. 4 that he won’t play again this season or in winter ball.
–INF Nick Green (sprained left thumb) was injured while playing third base Aug. 12. He had an MRI on Aug. 15 and went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 13, when the diagnosis was a sprain. He said on Aug. 31 that it hadn’t improved, and he might not play again this season.
–LF Logan Morrison (right knee inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list July 29. He will undergo another surgery Sept. 5 to fix problems created by the procedure last December. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 1.
–RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo (sprained right elbow) began pitching for Class A Jupiter on July 9. He was shut down because of elbow pain after facing three batters in a rehab game with Class AAA New Orleans on July 14, and an examination show that he has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. The Marlins placed him on the 15-day disabled list July 23, and he is out indefinitely.
–RHP Sandy Rosario (strained right quadriceps) went on the 15-day disabled list June 16.
–RHP Jose Ceda (swollen right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 27. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery April 12.
ROTATION:
RHP Josh Johnson
LHP Mark Buehrle
RHP Ricky Nolasco
RHP Nathan Eovaldi
LHP Wade LeBlanc
RHP Jacob Turner
BULLPEN:
RHP Heath Bell
RHP Steve Cishek
RHP Ryan Webb
RHP Chad Gaudin
LHP Mike Dunn
RHP Chris Hatcher
RHP Carlos Zambrano
LHP Dan Jennings
RHP Tom Koehler
RHP A.J. Ramos
CATCHERS:
John Buck
Rob Brantly
INFIELDERS:
1B Carlos Lee
2B Donovan Solano
SS Jose Reyes
3B Greg Dobbs
INF Donnie Murphy
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Bryan Petersen
CF Justin Ruggiano
RF Giancarlo Stanton
OF Gorkys Hernandez
OF Austin Kearns
