WASHINGTON -- Jose Urena said he'll appeal his six-game suspension, which Major League Baseball gave him Thursday for intentionally hitting Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch Wednesday.
Urena, whom MLB also gave an undisclosed fine, reiterated Friday that he didn't intend to hit Acuna. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he might use Urena during his team's series against the Nationals at Nationals Park this weekend, possibly having the right-hander start Sunday.
"The reaction is pretty sad for me," Urena said. "I just tried to go out there … and tried to attack the hitter, a righty, so I go inside. I just tried to secure a good plan. That was pretty sad, pretty tough for me."
With his first and only pitch Wednesday night at SunTrust Park, Urena struck Acuna's left elbow with a 97.5-mph fastball. Both teams' benches cleared in the series finale, which the Braves won, 5-2.
With his appeal, Urena is in line to face the Yankees at Marlins Park on Tuesday or Wednesday if he doesn't throw this weekend. The 26-year-old could then drop his appeal before the Marlins play the Braves the following weekend.
Urena has hit 11 batters this season, which is the most in the National League. In 2017, he led the Majors with 14.

"When people know me, the people know," Urena said. "I [am] competitive when I get out there. You feel like you go face somebody, be aggressive. Sometimes, you see people make comments when they don't know [you]."
Acuna, who hit four home runs during the Marlins-Braves series, left Wednesday's game in the second inning but returned to the Braves' lineup Thursday.
"I didn't watch any of the reaction yesterday because I know it's just a lot of noise," Mattingly said. "Between social media and guys who give their opinion based on social media. We were there and tried not to get involved with all the noise of it."
Cooper starts rehab
Garrett Cooper, who has been on the disabled list since July 24 after re-injuring his right wrist, will begin rehab with Class A Advanced Jupiter on Friday.
Cooper is hitting .212 in just 14 games this season. The 27-year-old missed three months after sustaining a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his right wrist in March. Cooper hit .326 in 13 games with the Yankees last season.