Solano latest Marlin to miss game with injury
Miami to evaluate second baseman, who could end up on disabled list
PHILADELPHIA -- Aches and pains continue to pile up for the Marlins.
Now, they could be without second baseman Donovan Solano for at least a few days.
Solano, who had started all 30 of Miami's games, was scratched about an hour before the first pitch on Saturday night due to tightness on his left side. It is believed to be an oblique ailment. He will be further evaluated, and a disabled list stint is possible.
"When I was in the cage, I felt something in my side," Solano said. "Something to the oblique. I saw the doctor before the game. He said it was no big deal. It's not too bad. We'll see tomorrow if it is worse or if it gets better."
If Solano does wind up on the DL, Double-A Jacksonville second baseman Derek Dietrich is a candidate to be promoted. But Dietrich, batting .296 for the Suns with four homers and 16 RBIs, is not currently on the 40-man roster.
Miami is at the maximum on its 40-man roster, and someone would have to be removed to make room for Dietrich. So the club will wait to see if Solano will only miss a few days, or if he needs to miss extended time.
Solano was initially slotted to lead off against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels on Saturday, but the Marlins got enough offense without him in a 2-0 win.
The Marlins had been planning on going with an entirely right-handed-hitting lineup, but those plans changed once Solano was removed. Chris Valaika replaced Solano at second base and atop the lineup, hitting a home run and making some nice defensive plays.
The Marlins' bench already was short because Austin Kearns was excused from the team, and he will be placed on the league's bereavement list for personal reasons. With Valaika and Greg Dobbs starting and Solano out, Miami didn't have a natural infielder available on the bench on Saturday. Outfielder Chris Coghlan, however, played second and third base in the Minor Leagues.
Miami will make a roster move before Sunday's series finale with the Phillies to replace Kearns.
Solano, who hit a home run on Friday night in a 4-1 loss, is batting .278 with two doubles and five RBIs.