Marlins’ newly-acquired starter Colin Rea placed on DL with right elbow sprain
Colin Rea’s nameplate over his locker in the clubhouse hadn’t even arrived yet Sunday.
The Marlins’ newly-acquired starter likely won’t make an appearance on the mound any time soon either.
Rea was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain less than a day after his debut with the Marlins was limited to a brief, yet effective, 3 1/3 innings.
"It still feels the same today as it did last night so I’m just kind of waiting right now," Rea said. "They kind of told me after the game to kind of expect [going to the DL]. Now, I just have to wait and get more tests."
Rea was acquired as part of a seven-player trade with the Padres on Friday, along with Andrew Cashner, who started Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
But with Rea looking at a potentially prolonged absence, and the rotation already short-handed without injured Wei-Yin Chen, the Marlins are left once again searching for options to add a starter.
Tom Koehler is also dealing with a pectoral muscle issue and his next start has already been pushed to Wednesday in Chicago.
The Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline is Monday at 4 p.m.
The Marlins have not said who will replace Rea in the rotation for the time being, but recalled reliever Nefi Ogando from Triple-A New Orleans to add bullpen depth.
Ogando has a 3.00 ERA in three innings pitched for the Marlins this season out of the bullpen.
Potential starter replacements if the Marlins are unable to acquire anyone else before the deadline include Jose Urena, Justin Nicolino, and Kendry Flores, who are all in Triple-A.
"I’m hoping it’s nothing serious, but I just have to take it as it is and try to stay positive," Rea said.
Rea was shut down last September due to discomfort in the elbow, but said this time it felt different.
Rea went 5-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 18 starts (19 appearances) for the Padres this season and went 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA in six starts as a rookie last season.
"In the offseason it was mostly just rest and then I started my normal throwing program," Rea said. "By early December, I felt fine. They were thinking of resting me in September more for precautionary reasons."
Rea’s debut with the Marlins Saturday ended following a strikeout to Jedd Gyorko in the top of the fourth inning when he felt tightness in his right elbow.
Rea did not give up a run and retired 10 of the 11 batters he had faced to that point and threw a total of 44 pitches.
But the tightness he felt in his elbow got worse as he continued to pitch.
After a quick evaluation, Rea’s night was over.
PHELPS ON CALL
The Marlins went on to beat the Cardinals 11-0 in their most lopsided win of the season thanks largely to David Phelps’ clutch relief pitching.
Phelps, who has 59 career starts, delivered 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts on 55 pitches.
After allowing a two-out walk and double in the fourth, Phelps retired seven of the final eight batters he faced to earn the victory.
With relievers Nick Wittgren and Dustin McGowan essentially unavailable after throwing two innings apiece on Friday, Phelps knew he was on call in case a reliever needed to go multiple innings on Saturday.
"I knew what kind of shape we were in with the bullpen, and I didn’t want to have guys throw that didn’t need to throw," Phelps said. "I was trying to eat up as much as I could."
COMING UP
Monday: Marlins LHP Adam Conley (7-5, 3.38 ERA) vs. Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (9-7, 2.39 ERA), 8:05 p.m., Wrigley Field.
Tuesday: Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA) vs. Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (10-5, 3.23 ERA), 8:05 p.m., Wrigley Field.
This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Marlins’ newly-acquired starter Colin Rea placed on DL with right elbow sprain."