PHILADELPHIA -- When Jeff Locke opened the season on the disabled list, the Marlins anticipated the left-hander would miss all of April and be ready sometime in May.
Everything is proceeding on schedule, with Locke progressing and already throwing in simulated games at the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla. At some point in the near future, the anticipation is he will be ready for a rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Jupiter.
From there, it will just be a matter of time before Locke is reinstated from the 10-day DL and joins the Marlins.
Locke has been recovering from left shoulder tendinitis sustained in late February, during the first week of Spring Training.
"He's getting closer all the time," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "He's had no setbacks. I think he's pitched a couple of innings in a sim game in extended spring.
"I know he's feeling good. Not one report I've read that he's had any negative effect to what he's doing. He's really getting closer."
The Marlins certainly would welcome Locke, as he provides an option as a long reliever as well as being rotation depth.
Barring anything unforeseen, the Marlins' rotation is set, making Locke a candidate for the bullpen. If he were built back up to start, his progression would take longer. For now, the thinking is Locke could pitch multiple innings in relief.
The Marlins opened the season without a left-hander in the bullpen, and they currently are carrying one, rookie Jarlin Garcia.
In his six seasons with the Pirates, Locke was primarily a starter. Of his 123 big league appearances, 110 have been starts. In 2016, the 29-year-old was 9-8 with a 5.44 ERA in 30 appearances, with 19 starts.
"Eventually, he's going to have to go out and pitch in [a rehab game]," Mattingly said.