JUPITER, Fla. -- Even with right-hander Sixto Sánchez’s health uncertain, the Marlins should sport one of the National League’s most talented starting rotations in 2022. And they are lining it up to be raring to go once the season begins.

Presumptive Opening Day starter Sandy Alcantara will start the team’s Grapefruit League opener Friday against the Nationals, Miami manager Don Mattingly announced Thursday, followed by Pablo López on Saturday against the Astros. The alignment should give both right-handers four starts to stretch out during spring games, and it would keep Alcantara in line to make his third consecutive Opening Day start.

“We’re comfortable with Sandy and Pablo, how they’re looking here,” Mattingly said. “You get the guys we have, you’d like to get them into a rhythm and healthy. You know they are going to give us a chance to win games.”

Both pitchers will be stretched out more than usual for a first spring start due to the condensed schedule, with Alcantara shooting for three innings and 45 pitches on Friday, Mattingly said. López is slated for two innings Saturday.

Durability is more of a concern for López, who missed most of the second half of 2021 due to right rotator cuff issues. Lopez was highly effective despite little run support when healthy, pitching to a 3.07 ERA in 20 starts. Alcantara went 9-15 with a 3.19 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 33 starts, earning a share of the Major League lead.

2021 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Trevor Rogers, Jesús Luzardo and Elieser Hernandez project as Miami’s third, fourth and fifth starters, with No. 4 prospect Sánchez headlining considerable depth. Sánchez recently experienced a setback in his recovery from right shoulder surgery, which sidelined him for all of 2021 after an impressive seven-game debut in '20. His absence should create opportunity for hurlers like Braxton Garrett, Cody Poteet, Nick Neidert, Paul Campbell or top pitching prospect Edward Cabrera to make an impression this spring, as Mattingly looks to establish a pecking order behind his top two starters.

Squaring up
As Jazz Chisholm Jr. looks to build on his impressive rookie campaign in 2021, there is no part of his multifaceted game that he’s overlooking. Small ball included.

Chisholm is intentional about making bunting practice part of his daily routine, working on the skill with Marlins special instructor Juan Pierre in a controlled setting Thursday morning. Chisholm beat out two bunt hits in five attempts last season, to go along with 18 home runs and 23 stolen bases. Though bunting remains on the decline league-wide, Chisholm is one of Miami’s fastest players and still sees it as a potential weapon.

“That’s something I always try to work on,” Chisholm said. “That’s something I never want to lose. I always have my legs. If I’m in a little slump, I can always drop one down.”

Few were better at dropping one down for a hit in their prime than Pierre, who collected 201 bunt hits during his 14-year career. That includes 73 for the Marlins from 2003-05, including a career-best 29 in ’03.

“I’m glad it’s him that’s teaching me,” Chisholm said. “He’s an uncle figure to me.”

On the farm
An observer on the Roger Dean back fields could get a glimpse of the Marlins’ future on Thursday, when High-A Beloit and Single-A Jupiter both played exhibition games against corresponding Mets affiliates. The Beloit contest provided a preview of what should be an exciting Sky Carp rotation, featuring right-hander Evan Fitterer and lefties Luis Palacios and Jared Pettite. Fitterer, the Marlins’ No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, showed the best of that trio Thursday, breezing through two scoreless innings.

Scheduling update
The Marlins’ two series postponed by the lockout were rescheduled this week, with the updated date and times for seven total games announced by MLB.

Originally, the Marlins were scheduled to open the season with a four-game series against the Braves, followed by a three-game set vs. the Rangers. Three of the Braves games will be made up at the back end of the schedule instead, with a three-game set scheduled for Oct. 3-5 at loanDepot park. The fourth will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Aug. 13.

Miami and Texas will make up their lost series in two parts, with a single game on July 21 and a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 12. Additionally, all of the Marlins’ Sunday home games will be played at 1:40 p.m. ET this season.

Follow along
All 15 of the Marlins’ Grapefruit League games will be either televised, streamed or carried on radio this spring, the club announced Thursday. See the full broadcast schedule below: