JUPITER, Fla. -- The Marlins¡¯ starting rotation lost another member on Thursday when doctors diagnosed Ryan Weathers with a left forearm strain.
Weathers reported the discomfort on Tuesday, one day after his most recent start. He won't throw for at least seven days and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
¡°It's a mild flexor strain,¡± Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said after the Marlins' 11-0 loss to the Astros. ¡°Tuesday, it just didn't feel quite right, so we got it looked at. UCL is intact. It was good there.¡±
Weathers started four games this spring, allowing only one earned run over 11 1/3 innings while striking out 11. He surrendered that run during a four-inning performance on Monday against the Mets -- his most recent Grapefruit League start.
¡°Unfortunate setback for Ryan,¡± McCullough told FanDuel Sports Network Florida during an in-game interview on Thursday. ¡°He looked great. He was having a terrific camp -- really was throwing the ball well. I think we are optimistic this is going to be a shorter-term thing with Ryan.¡±
The 25-year old left-hander posted a 5-6 record with a 3.63 ERA last season for the Marlins, his fourth as a Major Leaguer. Weathers began his career in San Diego. During his four Major League years, Weathers is 10-21 with a 5.08 ERA.
Weathers is the second Miami starter in a little more than a week to learn he'll begin the season on the IL.
Edward Cabrera is dealing with a blister on his right middle finger and will also miss the start of the season.
Janson Junk, Thursday¡¯s Grapefruit League starter against Houston, looked like he could be someone to fill one of the two new openings in the Marlins¡¯ rotation, but he exited his start accompanied by a trainer with two outs in the fourth inning.
Junk said afterward a back spasm prompted his exit.
¡°Just kind of one of those weird over-extension things, and doing some treatment modalities and stuff, it already feels better,¡± Junk said.
Junk has allowed six earned runs and struck out 10 over 10 1/3 innings this spring. He profiled as a long reliever entering camp, but the Marlins saw upside from Junk as a starter.
¡°With the way that the stuff has played this spring, as we can continue to get into it, we think there is some potential starter output in Janson,¡± McCullough said.
Connor Gillispie, Valente Bellozo and Adam Mazur are also candidates to enter the rotation.
Heading to the back fields
Sandy Alcantara will start in a Minor League game on Friday. He¡¯s scheduled to throw 80-90 pitches over five innings in his final tune-up before an Opening Day start against Pittsburgh.
Pitching in a Minor League game allows the Marlins to better control Alcantara's workload.
The 2022 Cy Young Award winner and a two-time All-Star, Alcantara missed all of 2024 after undergoing right elbow Tommy John surgery. If all goes well on Friday, Alcantara will be cleared to throw 100 pitches in the season opener.
This spring, Alcantara hasn't allowed an earned run in 12 1/3 innings across five starts.
¡°Sandy being where he's at, we certainly feel terrific about that, as he does,¡± McCullough said. ¡°And this is just part of that continued buildup into the season.¡±
Alcantara isn't the only member of the Marlins¡¯ rotation finishing their spring on Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium's back fields.
On Thursday, Max Meyer threw a simulated game against Marlins Major Leaguers rather than taking his rotation turn in Grapefruit League action.
¡°Max has been terrific,¡± McCullough said. ¡°He's in a great spot. So this one here, it's viewed through a similar lens. It's just a chance to do it in a more controlled-type setting.¡±