JUPITER, Fla. -- Justin Bour took batting practice on Saturday morning, but due to back spasms, he was scratched from the lineup in a game that the Marlins beat the Cardinals, 7-3, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
The decision was precautionary, and Bour is expected to play on Sunday against the Yankees in Jupiter.
"It just kind of stiffened up, and we weren't going to take any chances," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "We're not going to let him go out there to try to work through something. When he started to stiffen up, we just weren't going to test it."
Bour is the second core position player to be scratched in as many days. On Friday, catcher J.T. Realmuto was out of the lineup due to a bruised left knee.
Realmuto was also out of the lineup on Saturday, but is scheduled to play against New York.
Bour had a sacrifice fly in Friday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox, and he was set to go again on Saturday.
In the morning, Bour took batting practice, but about an hour before the game with the Cardinals was set to start, he was replaced.
Isan Diaz replaced Bour in the cleanup spot as the designated hitter, and the prospect homered off Michael Wacha. Scott Van Slyke played first base.
Bour has a history of starting slowly in Spring Training, and in 21 at-bats, he's hitting .190 with four RBIs.
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Last year, he was the threat in the Marlins' lineup, and belted 25 home runs while driving in 83 RBIs.
Realmuto said he could have played on Saturday, but the Marlins already had set their lineup with Chad Wallach getting a start behind the plate.
In other injury news, shortstop JT Riddle (left shoulder) is expected to play in Minor League games next week.
Position battles
Elieser Hernandez, the Rule 5 pick competing for a rotation spot, impressed in three shutout innings on Saturday. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out two and allowed one hit -- a double in the second to Greg Garcia. He didn't allow a walk, and picked up his teammate, shortstop Miguel Rojas, in the third inning. Rojas made a throwing error on Adolis Garcia's routine ground ball. But Hernandez, on a slider, got Breyvic Valera, to bounce into a double play.

Up next
The Marlins will send out most of their regulars on Sunday against the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. ET at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Jacob Turner is scheduled to start, and prospect Sandy Alcantara is slated to throw in relief. Former Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro also will be in the lineup. Former Marlins All-Star Giancarlo Stanton will not be on the trip for the Yankees, but Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez are slated to play. Listen to the game live via an exclusive webcast.