Marlins break down plan for Cueto after injury-filled start. And rotation plans moving forward

Johnny Cueto has returned to the Miami Marlins’ roster, with the club activating him during the All-Star Break after spending almost three-and-a-half months on the injured list with two separate injuries.

Cueto has not, at least for the time being, returned to the Marlins’ starting rotation.

Manager Skip Schumaker said Friday before the Marlins’ series opener against the Baltimore Orioles that Cueto will begin his time back on the big-league roster in the bullpen with a yet-to-be-determined role.

“I don’t have this set role for him,” Schumaker said. “Whether it’s going to be long guy, middle relief, I’m not really sure. We’ll carve out something, but trying to get him maybe a softer landing spot to see where he’s at and work from there.”

This will be Cueto’s first time primarily working as a reliever in 16 MLB seasons. Of his 356 major-league appearances, only two have come out of the bullpen.

“I have to adapt,” Cueto told the Miami Herald on Friday. “It’s a process and I’m here to help the team however they need me and however they want to use me.”

Cueto has made just one appearance for the Marlins this season, leaving in the second inning of his April 3 start against the Minnesota Twins with right biceps tightness. The injury was in the same area where he felt discomfort during spring training. Cueto at the time admitted that he was “rushing” to get ready for the season and the World Baseball Classic that preceded it, which may have prompted the injury.

He then sustained a second injury during his first rehab start on May 6 when he rolled his ankle in the third inning of his start for the Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp while trying to cover first base. Cueto then missed another month before making six rehab starts, two with Double A Pensacola and then four more with Triple A Jacksonville, his second time around.

The results were not pretty.

After pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings in his first outing with Double A Pensacola, Cueto gave up 27 earned runs over 24 innings — a 10.13 ERA — with 12 strikeouts against six walks in the final five outings. This included allowing 12 home runs.

It’s hard to ignore the numbers, of course. For Cueto, he said his time rehabbing was focused on “working on specific pitches that I wanted to be ready and good for once I’m up here on the mound.”

“He’s a veteran guy,” Marlins general manager Kim Ng said last week. “Hopefully, he’s able to turn it on a little bit more when he gets up here.”

Whether or not he turns it on, it will be in a new role whenever he gets the chance. Cueto admitted his frustration with how this season has unfolded, but now his goal is to find a way — any way — to make an impact.

“It’s not something that’s easy,” Cueto said. “It’s very [tough] to go through difficulties like that, but you have to be like a horse and always facing forward and moving forward. I know it was difficult, but we’re here, ready to play baseball.

“It’s going to be a grinder,” Cueto continued. “I’ve got to keep working every day. Stay ready. It’s going to be a different routine [pitching out of the bullpen]. It’s a working process that you have to learn, but I’m here to help the team and just have to be ready.”

Marlins’ rotation plans

With Cueto beginning in the bullpen, what does that mean for the Marlins’ rotation to begin the second half of the season?

Sandy Alcantara started on Friday, holding the Orioles to three runs (two earned runs) over six innings. Braxton Garrett is scheduled to pitch Saturday. The team has Sunday listed as to be determined and has not announced its order for the next series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jesus Luzardo will fill one of the remaining three slots. Signs point to Edward Cabrera, who is with the team in Baltimore and pitched five innings on a back field Thursday, filling one of the other spots. He is in line to pitch on regular rest Tuesday against the Cardinals. Cabrera has been on the injured list since June 14 with a right shoulder impingement.

The final spot? Bryan Hoeing seemed like the logical option, considering he started four consecutive games entering the All-Star Break. Instead, Miami could possibly go with a bullpen game either Sunday or Monday. Hoeing, Huascar Brazoban, George Soriano and Cueto can all pitch multiple innings before Miami would have to dip into its high-leverage relievers (A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott, Dylan Floro and JT Chargois).

More injury updates

▪ Right-handed relief pitcher Matt Barnes is scheduled to undergo surgery for his left hip impingement on July 25. The surgery timeline is about three months before he can begin running or throwing, so his season is effectively over.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender (recovery from Tommy John surgery) threw a 15-pitch bullpen this week.

▪ Center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (oblique) stayed in Miami to continue his rehab.

▪ Outfielder Avisail Garcia (back) is with the team in Baltimore and took batting practice on the field Friday.

▪ Left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Nardi (triceps inflammation) is with the team in Baltimore and played catch pregame.

▪ Left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers is still not throwing but has range of motion in his right shoulder following a right lat tear.