JUPITER, Fla. -- On the final weekend of Spring Training, Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro is making up for lost time.

Alfaro was in the lineup on Saturday night for the first time since March 5, and the 25-year-old caught five innings and went 1-for-2 in the Marlins’ 5-0 loss to the Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

“I know my timing isn’t going to be there right away,” Alfaro said. “I’m going to have time to work on it, and I will be ready for Opening Day.”

Alfaro has missed most of Spring Training due to a bruised right knee he sustained in the first Grapefruit League game. He aggravated the injury on March 5.

“It was good to get him out there behind the plate,” manager Don Mattingly said. “That game behind the plate, just get that process going, where he’s getting confidence being back there, getting some type of rhythm.”

The Marlins anticipate Alfaro being in the lineup on Thursday in the season opener against the Rockies at Marlins Park.

“I’ve taken a lot of at-bats on the Minor League side,” Alfaro said. “I tried to get my rhythm and timing back. It was hard at the beginning.”

The catching picture cleared on Saturday when Bryan Holaday, a non-roster invitee, exercised his out clause. With Alfaro healthy, the Marlins plan on carrying Chad Wallach, who has been on the 40-man roster, as the backup.

Miami acquired Alfaro from the Phillies in early February as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade.

Even though he missed most of Spring Training, Alfaro is confident he will get up to speed quickly.

“It’s part of the process,” he said. “I got hurt. Then I had to start step by step.”

Urena dialed in

Jose Urena saved his best spring performance for last. That’s a good thing for the Marlins.

Urena, who will start on Opening Day against the Rockies, threw three perfect innings with two strikeouts. Of his 30 pitches, 19 were strikes.

“The time has come,” Urena said. “The time is right there. I’m just waiting for the 28th. When you get out there, you’ve got to compete.”

From the start, Urena was on the attack, pounding the zone.

“He was in game mode today,” Mattingly said. “He wasn’t out there working on anything. It was pretty much on the hunt. That was good to see.”

Close to setting roster

Barring anything unforeseen, the Marlins have set their 25-man Opening Day roster. But the club isn’t planning on announcing it until Thursday’s deadline.

Mattingly did say they’ve informed their non-roster invitees of their decisions.

“We’ve basically let all the non-roster guys know, the infielders and outfielders, barring any craziness, what’s going on,” Mattingly said.

The Marlins are expected to carry reliever Riley Ferrell, their Rule 5 Draft claim from the Astros. Ferrell has to make the 25-man roster or be offered back to Houston.

First baseman Pedro Alvarez, along with Holaday, exercised his out clause on Saturday. The two have 48 hours to decide if they will report to Triple-A New Orleans. They are currently free agents who could sign elsewhere.

Outfielder Harold Ramirez, however, did not exercise his out clause. Ramirez played on Saturday and will report to New Orleans.

Worth noting

Right-hander Trevor Richards threw four shutout innings in a Minor League game on Saturday afternoon. Against the Cardinals’ Triple-A squad, Richards struck out seven. Of his 48 pitches, 34 were strikes. It is unclear where Richards will be in the rotation, but he could line up either second or third.

Up next

Zac Gallen, who will open the season at Triple-A New Orleans, will get the start as the Marlins wrap up their Grapefruit League schedule on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Sergio Romo is listed to pitch in relief for Miami, while Jack Flaherty is slated to start for St. Louis.