WEST SACRAMENTO – Marlins right-hander Janson Junk threw 61 pitches across three innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
Junk, whose start was postponed a day due to inclement weather on Friday, allowed one run on five hits with no walks, one hit-by-pitch and three strikeouts. He maxed out at 95.3 mph and used six different pitches (four-seamer, sinker, changeup, curveball, slider and sweeper).
On Sunday to begin his rehab assignment, Junk exited early after being struck on the left wrist by a 106 mph comebacker. X-rays came back negative, permitting him to stay on track. Across 2 2/3 innings, Junk had allowed three hits, including one homer, struck out three batters and didn't issue a walk in a 42-pitch outing.
It marked Junk’s first game action since being placed on the 15-day injured list on May 28 for right shin bone inflammation.
Prior to the injury, Junk compiled a 3-5 record and a 4.80 ERA in 11 starts after earning the fifth spot in Miami’s Opening Day rotation over lefty Braxton Garrett.
“We'll just kind of gauge how Janson comes out of that, assuming he's able to feel fine and get through it,” manager Clayton McCullough said Friday. “We had discussed the potential of the next one being with us in Miami, but I don't think we'll have clarity on that till he's able to make this start and see how he feels during the outing, how he feels in the subsequent days after.”
Friday’s pregame transactions play into what the Marlins might do with the rotation in the meantime.
The Marlins optioned right-hander Ryan Gusto, who gave up three runs over three-plus innings in Thursday’s 14-4 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field. Miami recalled rookie righty reliever William Kempner as the corresponding roster move.
Since being recalled on June 2, Gusto had appeared in seven games (six starts) with Junk, Eury Pérez and Robby Snelling on the injured list. Miami often used a quick hook on Gusto, who averaged 3 1/3 innings and 59 pitches per outing while compiling a 5.79 ERA during this stretch.
Should the Marlins elect to use Monday’s scheduled off-day as a way to give their starting pitchers an extra day of rest – as has been the case so far this season – Gusto’s spot in the rotation wouldn’t come up again until Wednesday against the Mariners at loanDepot park.
“In the short term, the decision for me was the desire to want to carry an extra reliever,” McCullough said. “When we get through this road trip, we have an off-day. We have one more homestand before the All-Star break. We can do some different things in that open spot that Ryan could have taken in the rotation, and it was as much for me a chance at least for the next four days, be able to carry an extra reliever during this stretch.”