Cueto, Wendle to IL; Garrett, Hampson recalled

MIAMI -- A flurry of roster moves ahead of Tuesday night's game will affect the Marlins' rotation and lineup moving forward, though the club is optimistic after positive imaging results.

Still, Miami placed right-hander Johnny Cueto on the 15-day injured list with right biceps tightness and infielder Joey Wendle on the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal strain. Cueto's MRI showed no structural damage, while Wendle's indicated a non-oblique issue.

The 37-year-old Cueto threw just 30 pitches in Monday's 11-1 loss to the Twins at loanDepot park before exiting with the discomfort. He admitted that perhaps his irregular spring schedule played a part. Cueto allowed a combined 14 runs in 5 2/3 innings between two Grapefruit League starts and one World Baseball Classic start for the Dominican Republic. He also threw 61 pitches across 4 2/3 innings in a Minor League spring game that had been pushed back due to general right arm soreness. Per manager Skip Schumaker, Cueto ramped up to 85 pitches his last time out.

"We just want him to be ready, and I think him being built up the right way has been the challenge, honestly, with the WBC and him going that one game and maybe trying to do a little bit too much that one game in the WBC," Schumaker said. "And just hasn't really felt right since then. Trying to build him up the right way is the goal."

“I’ve got to say I was rushing,” Cueto had said Monday via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “I was not ready, and it was some rush.”

In corresponding moves, the Marlins recalled left-hander Braxton Garrett and utility player Garrett Hampson from Triple-A Jacksonville. Lefty Daniel Castano's contract was selected from Triple-A, and righty Jacob Lindgren was designated for assignment. Lindgren ate up five innings to save the bullpen on Monday.

Garrett, who was the odd man out when Miami elected to go with a five-man rotation, will join the starting staff after beginning the season in long relief. He had been optioned to Triple-A earlier Monday to build up his pitches. Castano will come out of the bullpen, where he has a career 0.68 ERA in five big league outings. He permitted two runs over six innings on Friday in a start for the Jumbo Shrimp.

Wendle, meanwhile, was scratched from Monday's lineup with oblique soreness. He felt fine warming up and lifting, then tweaked something in the cage, though it was nothing out of the ordinary. After taking it easy in his first round of batting practice, Wendle felt just enough to know something wasn't right and stopped swinging.

The 32-year-old Wendle landed on the IL three times last season -- twice for his right hamstring and once for his left hamstring. This is his first time dealing with an intercostal issue. He anticipated resting for a day or two before beginning strengthening work.

"This is just particularly frustrating for me just because I dealt with injuries last year," Wendle said. "I pride myself in preparing the right way and doing things the right way off the field, and to have an injury like this, one that I guess in some form could have been avoided, it's just particularly frustrating for me. But I'm optimistic it's not too bad. Hopefully be back out there shortly."

In Wendle's absence, Jon Berti will get the majority of the starts at shortstop, though Hampson could see pockets against left-handed pitching because of his career splits (.753 OPS), per Schumaker. Like Berti, Hampson can play second, third, short and outfield.

"Do what I can to provide what I do and help the team win any way I can," Hampson said. "That's kind of what I'm here for, and that's all I'm trying to do is contribute in any way."