The Marlins have three veteran reinforcements on the way as early as this weekend

It has been a rocky first month for the Marlins.

The returns of Dan Straily, Wei-Yin Chen and Martin Prado should help calm matters.

All three could be activated from the disabled list and added to the roster as early as this weekend, key reinforcements who provide veteran experience and clubhouse leadership.

Chen (Saturday) and Straily (possibly Sunday) could jump straight into the rotation, giving the Marlins two proven starters with thick resumes.

Chen and Straily have combined for 253 Major League starts. By comparison, the five current members of the rotation (Jose Urena, Dillon Peters, Caleb Smith, Trevor Richards and Jarlin Garcia) have a grand total of 80.

Prado is also expected back in the coming days. When he does, he will take over at third base from Brian Anderson, who will shift to the outfield and first base.

The returns of the three should please the Marlins' accountants, who have been writing hefty paychecks for the trio without anything to show for them. The three players will combine to earn about $35 million this season, or about 35 percent of the team's total $100 million payroll.

Chen, in particular, has come at a high price.

Signed originally to a five-year, $80 million deal, Chen has made just 27 starts for the Marlins in two seasons, with only five of those coming in 2017. Arm issues have kept him on the disabled list for much of his time in Miami.

But he has looked sharp in his rehab outings and, assuming his side bullpen session goes well Thursday, will start Saturday against the Rockies.

Straily was one of the Marlins' most dependable starters a year ago but began this season on the disabled list with right forearm inflammation.

With both returning, the Marlins will have to create room on the roster.

"We will have decisions to make," said manager Don Mattingly.

Urena and Garcia are almost certain to remain in the rotation. The Marlins could move Smith to the bullpen, which would leave the front office with a choice of sending either Richards or Peters back to the minors.

"I think the experience for some of young guys already has been so valuable for us, and you can see it from start to start with Dillon, Trevor and Caleb," Mattingly said. "Anything that those guys are getting here, it's so valuable for them, no matter what happens. If they're in the pen, or having to go down to make starters, you're so much more comfortable when they come back."

This story was originally published April 27, 2018 at 1:00 AM with the headline "The Marlins have three veteran reinforcements on the way as early as this weekend."