MIAMI — The Miami Marlins’ starting rotation is in a confusing state of flux.
Jarred Cosart (vertigo) is expected to come off the disabled list as early as Thursday, which would leave seven starters to fit into five spots.
And, on July 2, the Marlins’ top pitcher, Jose Fernandez, is set to come off the DL, too. Fernandez, who is already throwing 98 mph, would make eight starters for five slots.
All that is really known about the Marlins rotation at the moment is that Mat Latos is scheduled to start on Wednesday.
Thursday’s starter is TBA according to Marlins manager Dan Jennings, although Dan Haren is listed on the team-issue media notes.
Jennings did say rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino has “definitely” earned another start. He pitched seven scoreless innings on Saturday and would fit into Thursday’s plan if he were to go on four-day’s rest.
Perhaps the Marlins keep Haren on schedule for Thursday and bump Nicolino back to Friday. But then what about Cosart? And what about Tom Koehler, who Jennings said was on pace to potentially start on Friday?
There are three ways the Marlins thin out their herd of starting pitchers: trades, demotions to the minors and detours to the bullpen.
Trade candidates are the veterans, Haren and Latos, especially the latter.
Candidates to be sent to the minors are the rookies, Urena and Nicolino, even though both are doing well.
Bullpen-bound could be Koehler and Cosart. Koehler has the stuff — a 95-mph fast and a sharp curve — to be effective in the late innings. Cosart is a starting pitcher, but since he gave up an alarming six walks in his rehab start on Sunday, the Marlins might want to consider using him out of the bullpen at first.
“These are good problems to have,” Jennings said of the overabundance of starting pitchers.
Jennings also seemed to be excited about Fernandez, who was stretched to 90 pitches in Class A ball on Monday, striking out nine in seven innings and walking just one.
“We’re excited about the quickness and depth of his curve and the fact that he used his changeup as much as he did,” Jennings said. “If confidence has anything to do with it, he is real close to being ready.”
Fernandez will get one more rehab start, on Saturday, but Jennings was asked if his star pitcher should be pitching in the majors on that day instead.
“It’s what we mapped out a long time ago, and there’s no reason to deviate from that now,” Jennings said. “July 2 will be the day.”
If only the rest of the Marlins’ pitching plan were so clear cut.