Ramirez to IL tests right-handed OF depth

Despite 127 roster moves and counting since Opening Day, the Marlins are still well positioned in the postseason race.

The latest transactions came on Sunday, with outfielder Harold Ramírez going on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and infielder Eddy Alvarez being reinstated from the alternate training site.

Losing Ramirez, who is undergoing an MRI on Sunday, is a tough blow. The club is thin on right-handed-hitting outfielders, with Garrett Cooper getting a couple of days off from the starting lineup to rest due to a sore quad.

Cooper, who flied out in a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning of Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Rays in extras, is mainly a first base/designated hitter option. While he has played outfield, that’s unlikely if his legs aren’t at full strength.

On Sunday, the Marlins' outfield trio was Corey Dickerson (left field), Starling Marte (center) and Matt Joyce (right). Lewis Brinson is a right-handed-hitting outfielder, but he starts mostly against lefties.

Jon Berti, who has played second base of late, is an option to see more time in the outfield. And Isan Díaz, who is getting at-bats in Jupiter, Fla., is getting closer to returning.

“It pushes Bert more into a dual role right now,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “There’s still talk about what we want to do with the outfield. I don’t think it changes a whole lot. Harold was here for one day.”

The Marlins will be adding outfield prospect Monte Harrison to their taxi squad.

“You’re trying to build with the versatility, and you move forward,” Mattingly said. “You do what you have to do to try to win a game that night.”

Unlike the past few seasons, when prospects were groomed in the big leagues, the Marlins are using the players who best help them reach the postseason.

“I think, as an organization, and evident by what we did at the Trade Deadline, that this group deserves a chance to feel like we’re going to put the best guys out there for that day,” Mattingly said. “I think this group deserves a chance to go for it.”

Marlins-Braves on YouTube Monday
The Marlins begin a big three-game series with the National League East-leading Braves on Monday. Fans tuning in will get a unique broadcast experience, because the game is being broadcast exclusively on YouTube.

MLB Network will produce the 1:10 p.m. ET broadcast, with a team featuring MLB Network’s Scott Braun, Kevin Millar and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. They will provide live game commentary via a live chat within each broadcast.

There will be pregame and postgame content as part of the broadcast.

Ureña back in rotation
José Ureña was expected to make his first start on July 26 in the Marlins’ third game of the season. Instead, the right-hander was scratched from that start, and he went on the injured list as one of 18 Marlins who tested positive for COVID-19.

The Marlins will reinstate Ureña on Monday to face the Braves in the series opener.

“That was tough,” Ureña said of his recovery from the virus. “We couldn’t do anything [in quarantine].”

In recent weeks, Ureña said he threw three simulated games at Jupiter, Fla., and is built up to more than 80 pitches.

Ureña is filling the rotation spot vacated by Elieser Hernández, who went on the IL with a right lat strain and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

The strength of the Marlins is their rotation, which also features Sandy Alcantara, Pablo López and prospects Sixto Sánchez and Trevor Rogers.

“It’s been our confidence going into Spring Training and going into the summer that we knew that we had pretty good pitching, and that we had depth behind that,” Mattingly said. “Guys we thought could come up and help us this year.”

The Marlins are going to need all the starter depth possible, especially with four doubleheaders scheduled over the next 14 days.

Nick Neidert (No. 11 prospect), who is on the injured list, is built up to about four innings and 60 pitches at the alternate site. Lefty Daniel Castano is another option.