MIAMI -- Marlins right-hander Andrew Cashner, scratched from facing the Padres on Sunday due to a blister-related issue, is expected to return to the rotation later in the week.
Manager Don Mattingly said on Sunday morning that Cashner is lined up for Friday at Cleveland, though there is a chance he could possibly start at some point earlier. The plan at this point, however, is to keep the entire rotation on schedule.
"I don't expect for him to miss another start," Mattingly said. "His next turn in the rotation would be Friday, at Cleveland. It could be earlier than that, but we are lined up to stay on turn. He's doing better. [He] has a little tenderness in there. If we expected this to be longer than this, we would have DL'd him."
With Cashner out on Sunday, the Marlins recalled left-hander Justin Nicolino from Triple-A New Orleans to close out the series and homestand, while optioning lefty reliever Hunter Cervenka to the Zephyrs.
Acquired by the Marlins from the Padres in late July, Cashner has been dealing with a blood blister in the nail area of his third finger for the past few starts. The hope was he would be ready, but after Saturday's 1-0 loss, the club announced the hard-throwing right-hander was being scratched.
"He had that little blood blister under the nail, and it got to the side of it," Mattingly said. "With pitchers, it doesn't sound very serious. But with the finger pressure with pitchers, they end up being a fairly big deal."
Cashner's last start, on Tuesday against the Royals, was arguably his finest since joining the ballclub. He came out on the losing end of a 1-0 decision, but he gave up one run over six innings, scattering four hits, walking two and striking out four.
After Cashner exited that start, the training staff was looking at his finger.

Since the trade, Cashner is 0-3 with a 4.61 ERA in six appearances (five starts). For the season, he is 4-10 with a 4.73 ERA. With the Sept. 1 call-up period approaching, the Marlins will add pitching depth in the upcoming days.
Cervenka is the odd man out because he has options. He will be eligible to return in 10 days, which will be after the September call-up period.
"It was really a move that we had to have some length, and it was really more of a guy who has some options," Mattingly said.