Notes: Anderson, Marte progressing in return

April 27th, 2021

Marlins third baseman (left oblique strain) began his rehab process on Monday, but center fielder (left rib fracture) remains in a holding pattern.

According to manager Don Mattingly, Anderson resumed light baseball activities, including throwing and air swings. Marte is still experiencing discomfort in his left side that will need to subside before he picks up activity. Mattingly wouldn't commit to a timeframe for either player. Anderson went on the injured list last Thursday, while Marte has been sidelined since last Tuesday.

"I'd say Andy is obviously more hopeful to be ready when his time comes," Mattingly said. "Again, we don't want to push that even. That's why you hate putting timetables out there, because then if he's not quite ready, then it's going to be like he had a setback or something. But he is doing better.

"... Star, they said that he's still feeling things, but today was the first day I said, 'Star, how you doing?' And he was like, 'Better.' And so I think he's encouraged today. Also, still doesn't mean he's at the point where Andy's at, and his looks like it's going to be a little longer, but he's definitely feeling better today."

Super-utility player Jon Berti has started all six games at third base in Anderson's absence. Lewis Brinson started the first four games for Marte before Magneuris Sierra got the nod on Saturday. Adam Duvall, the club's primary right fielder, has moved over to center the past two games in the hopes of boosting the offense with him, Corey Dickerson and Garrett Cooper in the lineup.

Something to monitor
• Miguel Rojas felt discomfort in his right arm after turning a 4-6-3 double play in the seventh inning of Monday's 8-0 win at Milwaukee. Mattingly made a double switch in the eighth, moving Jazz Chisholm Jr. to shortstop and keeping pinch-hitter José Devers in the game at second base.

“We'll see tomorrow how he feels,” Mattingly said. “I think he's been battling this a little bit. … I think he'd be OK tomorrow. If not, we'll give him a day, and then probably be ready the next day.”

• Adam Duvall was hit on the left hand by a 92 mph four-seam fastball from Phil Bickford in the eighth inning. Duvall stayed in the game after getting it checked out at first base.

“He seemed to be OK,” Mattingly said. “He said it was a little numb when he was at first, but I checked with him after the inning to make sure, cause we could've put the pitcher in that spot, put [Lewis Brinson] in the game. But he said he was fine, so I think he's going to be fine.”

Other injury updates
• No. 3 starter Elieser Hernandez (right biceps inflammation) is now throwing at 105 feet. The plan calls for him to progress to bullpen work this week.

• MLB Pipeline's No. 13 prospect Sixto Sánchez (right shoulder inflammation) is still throwing at 60 feet.

• MLB Pipeline's No. 59 prospect Edward Cabrera (inflamed nerve in his right biceps) is still throwing at 105 feet.

• Miami's No. 29 prospect Jorge Guzman (right elbow inflammation) resumed throwing at 60 feet on Sunday after a minor setback.

Taxi squad vs. alternate training site
The severity of Anderson's injury caught the Marlins off guard before the start of a three-city, 10-game trip. Initially thought to be a day-to-day issue, Miami instead placed Anderson on the 10-day IL and plucked No. 8 prospect Devers from the taxi squad prior to last Thursday's series opener in San Francisco.

Devers had never played above the Class A Advanced level until his Major League debut on Saturday. Isan Díaz, who has 56 MLB games of experience, was on the other side of the country at the alternate training site in Jacksonville, Fla. When Díaz lost out on the second-base job to Jazz Chisholm Jr. out of Spring Training, the organization wanted him to continue getting consistent playing time.

Another factor that possibly comes into play is versatility. Devers is a middle infielder by trade, but he also received reps at third base during Spring Training in order to get at-bats. Last week, general manager Kim Ng said Díaz has been playing second base, with an occasional day at the hot corner at the alternate site.

"The taxi's tough because when guys come, they don't play for 10 days, like this trip's an 11-day trip," Mattingly said. "So that means if you bring a pitcher, then he's not working in games, he's not staying ready. Same with a player. If he's on the trip, he takes BP, but he doesn't play in games. You try to balance that in taxi, with keeping these guys playing. If there's a serious injury, you want a guy that's ready to go, and has been getting at-bats. Taxi's more of an emergency situation, temporary-type thing."