Marlins move SP Jose Urena to the 60-day I.L.

The Miami Marlins have announced they have moved starting pitcher Jose Urena to the 60-day I.L. with a back strain.

What was thought to be a back strain that would keep Marlins Opening Day starter Jose Urena on the I.L for 10 days has now become a major issue.

Per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the injury Urena sustained has now moved him to the 6-day I.L. It also means the Marlins front office and coaching staff will need to make a decision how to address the issue. Urena looked to have found his comfort zone of late, once again becoming the leader of the staff. This is another kind of setback the Marlins did not need to deal with.

The Marlins had a rotation that remained whole for 64 games before Caleb Smith went down with hip inflammation followed by the Urena injury. Both starters were shelved. Elieser Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to start in place of Smith on Tuesday night. Jordan Yamamoto, a strikeout pitcher, was recalled from Double-A Jacksonville to take Urena’s turn in the rotation on Wednesday night, winning in shutout fashion, 9-0 over St. Louis.

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To add to the Marlins woes, infielder Martin Prado was placed on the 10-day I.L. with a hamstring strain and was replaced on the 25-man roster by Yadiel Rivera from New Orleans.

"“Urena has been Miami’s Opening Day starter in each of the past two seasons, and he has been a durable innings provider for the organization in recent years. In 13 starts this year, the right-hander is 4-7 with a 4.70 ERA in 74 2/3 innings,” Frisaro wrote."

Can the Marlins weather this storm with Hernandez and Yamamoto? Will the team look to add another arm from the farm system?

For Prado, it is once again a case of a hamstring injury that could hamper him for more than just 10 days. He has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons.

As Frisaro reported, the news of the veteran’s trip to the I.L. was expected because he left the third inning of Thursday’s game last week with a tight hamstring.

"“The 35-year-old has appeared in 51 games this year, playing mostly first and third base,” Frisaro wrote. “He’s hitting .239/.264/.303 with one home run and 12 RBIs.”"

Maybe Rivera can continue the push by players who have been recalled from the minors to help inject life into the batting order. Harold Ramirez has been a key factor in the Marlins resurgence since a 10-31 start this season. After returning from the I.L. and a brief stint in the minors, Garrett Cooper has been a powerful bat in the middle of the order.

Rivera has 11 home runs and 34 RBI this season.