Lopez (right ring finger) returns to lineup after two-game absence

HOUSTON -- All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez returned to the Marlins’ lineup Tuesday night for Miami’s game against the Astros at Daikin Park after missing the previous two games with inflammation in his right ring finger.

Lopez was starting at shortstop and batting leadoff.

“It’s great to have Otto back,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He felt pretty good yesterday and anticipated he would turn around and feel better today, and he does. He woke up this morning and felt all right, so it’s great to have Otto back in the lineup. It’s hard to state how big of a factor he’s been for us this year on both sides of the ball. To get Otto back in the lineup today is a good thing. I’m glad he was only down for a few days.”

Lopez injured the finger Saturday while attempting to field a second-inning grounder with a 98.9 mph exit velocity off the bat of Joey Ortiz. When the ball hopped up on Lopez, it caught him on the nail area and led to a fielding error. X-rays were negative.

The 27-year-old Lopez remained in the game, going hitless in his next three at-bats. He also committed another error.

Lopez has been considered day-to-day the last two days, but he has been playing catch, fielding and swinging a bat to test out the finger.

McCullough said gripping the bat might cause Lopez more issues than fielding in the short term.

“There’s still some of the range of motion in the finger and him adjusting to maybe holding it a little bit differently,” McCullough said. “He felt OK with the transfers yesterday, getting the ball out of his glove, and the throwing felt more normal yesterday, so I don’t really anticipate there to be any issue. It’s just going to be him, at least for the foreseeable future, managing and just being not how he normally feels.”

Lopez had started all but six of the Marlins’ 101 games this season. Despite missing the last two games, he continues to lead the Majors with 130 hits and a .335 average entering play Tuesday.