Marlins Drew Steckenrider lost for the remainder of the season

Marlins reliever has elbow scoped, will miss the rest of 2019.

The Miami Marlins have announced that reliever Drew Steckenrider will miss the rest of the 2019 season because of an elbow injury.

Steckenrider, who met with renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, had his elbow scoped on Friday, which will put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. After being placed on the 10-day I.L. on May 8, Steckenrider was transferred to the 60-day I.L. on May 11 for what was determined to be a flexor strain in his right forearm.

He has not pitched in a game since. He appeared in just 15 games this season, with a 0-2 record and 6.28 ERA. Steckenrider was once considered for the team’s closer role in Spring Training but did not meet expectations and the job was won by Sergio Romo.

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"“We were hopeful we [wouldn’t] get to that,” said Marlins manager Don Mattingly via MLB.com. “Obviously he was coming back throwing, throwing pens, he threw in a game, and the soreness came back. So, then we got the second opinion and did a little cleanup in there.”"

The procedure was done, and it was revealed there wasn’t any more damage than first discovered. In three seasons with the Marlins, he owns a 5-7 record and a 3.72 ERA over 123 career appearances, all of them in relief.

He should figure in the team’s bullpen plans for the 2020 season. The Marlins do not have a permanent closer since the team traded Romo to the Minnesota Twins. Maybe Steckenrider jumps back into the conversation as the team’s specialist next season.

When does Pablo Lopez Return? – The Miami Marlins are watching the progress of starter Pablo Lopez with an eye on his return this season.

There is no word yet when that will happen. Lopez has been pitching with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Southern League.

According to MLB.com, he did throw a bullpen session prior to the game against the Braves on Friday night, but the team is taking its time deciding when to bring him back. He was 2-0 in June with a 1.89 ERA before suffering a right shoulder strain.

He has thrown a 60-pitch assignment with the Jumbo Shrimp and then threw 10 pitches in the bullpen.

"“He was just starting to roll,” [Marlins Manager Don]Mattingly said. “Trying to get that same feeling back while you’re trying to recover and get back to the big leagues is not always the best way. So we’re just trying to encourage him to just go compete.”"