DENVER -- The Marlins placed starting pitcher Jose Urena on the disabled list Friday, two days after he experienced discomfort in his start in San Francisco on Wednesday, when he allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Urena was diagnosed with "right shoulder impingement," and is on the DL retroactive to June 21. The Marlins reactivated reliever Nick Wittgren to take his spot on the roster.
"It didn't feel major," manager Don Mattingly said before Friday's series opener with the Rockies, relying on the prognosis of head certified athletic trainer Dustin Luepker. "Just getting Coach Dusty's reaction to it, it felt like we could get on top of it. They checked him out in San Francisco after the game. We feel like it'll be short. You never know with anything like this."
The Marlins are hopeful that with a few days of rest, Urena can start throwing again and be prepared to join the rotation when his 10-day stint on the DL is up on July 1.
"That's what we're hoping for with anybody, but we'll listen to the doctors," Mattingly said. "We'll shut him down for a couple days, he'll throw and work out and do some things. Hopefully, he's going to be good. We'll get back to Miami Monday, and he can throw there. We'll see what happens."
Mattingly is waiting until they finish the series in Colorado to make a determination on who will start in place of Urena when his spot comes up again on Tuesday in Miami.
"It probably depends on what happens here the next couple of days," Mattingly said, knowing the effect Coors Field can have on a pitching staff. "We can either bring somebody [up from the Minors], or either [relievers] Elieser [Hernandez] or [Brett] Graves, either one of those guys are really built to start. But you never know what happens when you leave this place after three days. Sometimes it can go well, but you can leave here with your 'pen limping pretty good."
Wittgren returns to the Marlins after going on the 10-day DL on June 2 with a right middle finger contusion. He made three rehab appearances, two in Double-A Jacksonville and one in Triple-A New Orleans, allowing two runs on solo homers with no walks and three strikeouts in three innings.
"It went well," Wittgren said of his rehab. "Just about five or six days of no throwing, because the finger was so swollen and still hurting. After that, the pain went away, it felt good, it felt back to normal, and it was just a progression of getting back. After two weeks without seeing hitters, I had to throw a couple rehab outings with hitters in there, get back in the flow and swing of things. Now I'm feeling great."
Wittgren pitched a game with Jacksonville, went a day without pitching, threw again in Jacksonville, went two days without pitching, then 1 2/3 innings for New Orleans.
"[The multiple-inning outing was] just so I can get up and down [between innings] and make sure everything feels fine," Wittgren said. "Just get in the flow of things. I feel great."
Wittgren is available Friday, and Mattingly pointed out that the one benefit of the timing of Urena's injury is that the club can carry an extra reliever for the Rockies series in Coors Field, which is often hard on bullpens.
Suspensions pending
Starter Dan Straily's suspension for hitting Buster Posey in San Francisco on Tuesday is in limbo as Straily has filed for an appeal. If he loses the appeal, Straily will miss a start and the Marlins will have another spot in the rotation to fill.
"If something happens to Dan, we'll have to figure it out," Mattingly said. "We have some options. We'll see what happens in the series for Jose's spot and go from there."
Worth noting
• Garrett Cooper is on rehab assignment in Triple-A. He played five innings in left field Thursday and is expected to play five innings at first base Friday.
• Left-hander Chris O'Grady is continuing his throwing progression and threw a 25-pitch live batting practice Friday.
• Martin Prado is hitting live pitching and continuing with his running progression.