No BP for Stanton as Jennings gives team break

WASHINGTON -- After Friday night's extra-inning loss to the Nationals, manager Dan Jennings eased back on the Marlins' pregame work Saturday, which included canceling batting practice. As a result, Giancarlo Stanton did not hit on the field, which he was scheduled to do for the first time since Monday.

Jennings said Stanton would take swings in the batting cage under Nationals Park. The All-Star right fielder has been out since June 26 and underwent surgery two days later to remove the broken bone in his hand.

When asked about it before the Marlins' 5-2 loss to the Nationals, Stanton said that his hand is "not ready yet." There is no timetable for his return. The absolute earliest he could be back is next Tuesday in Miami, Jennings said, but given Stanton's current status, that's not likely.

Third baseman Martin Prado was also out of the lineup Saturday, the second straight game he's missed with a sore left wrist.

Prado, who is hitting .287, was wearing a brace on the left wrist before the game and received treatment. An X-ray did not show any structural damage, he said, and he will receive an MRI in Miami if the problem persists.

"It's how baseball works. When you're playing well, bad things happen," Prado said.

The veteran infielder was hitting .382 with 13 RBIs in 15 games this month.

"It's just going to be a couple-day thing," Jennings said. "We don't want to push somebody out there where there's 15, 14 games left and put somebody in a position we miss him the rest of the way."

Another injured infielder, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, is close to his return from a strained left hamstring, Jennings said.

"He's doing all the work," Jennings said. "He's taking the ground balls, he's swinging the bat. [It's] just a matter of that burst of speed and him proving to himself he's OK."