Braxton Garrett scratched with left elbow discomfort

MIAMI — Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett has been scratched ahead of his Sunday afternoon start against the Mariners at loanDepot park, the club announced on Saturday. He will be further evaluated for left elbow discomfort, which he felt following his Friday bullpen session.

This marks back-to-back days the Marlins have scratched their starter. Miami placed lefty Jesús Luzardo, who was scheduled to pitch on Saturday, on the 15-day injured list with lumbar stress reaction.

For Garrett, this is the latest setback in an injury-plagued 2024. He showed up to Spring Training with general shoulder soreness and began the season on the IL with a left shoulder impingement. Garrett then experienced “dead arm” during an in-between-start bullpen while on rehab assignment in mid-April, which delayed his debut until May 8. Garrett is no stranger to elbow discomfort, as he underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2017 when he was still a prospect.

The 26-year-old Garrett entered 2024 coming off a breakout campaign in which he recorded a 127 ERA+ and a 1.15 WHIP over a career-high 159 2/3 innings. He even started Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies. Garrett has an 82 ERA+ and a 1.19 WHIP in seven starts, including a shutout on May 24 in Arizona, this season.

The Marlins have yet to announce who will start in Garrett’s place, and there are no available 40-man options. Righty Shaun Anderson started for Luzardo on Saturday, and Marlins No. 2 prospect Max Meyer pitched for Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. A possibility could be right-hander George Soriano, who tossed three scoreless innings for the Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday. Going with a bullpen game on short notice could be risky for the Marlins during this stretch of 10 consecutive days with a game.

Should Miami go a different route, the organization would need to clear space on the 40-man roster.

Miami has seven starting pitchers sidelined due to injury: right-handers Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery), Eury Pérez (Tommy John surgery), Edward Cabrera (right shoulder impingement) and Sixto Sánchez (right shoulder inflammation) as well as lefties Luzardo, Garrett and Ryan Weathers (left index finger strain). Southpaw A.J. Puk, who has transitioned back into a relief role, also missed time with left shoulder fatigue.

“We still have a job to do,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “It’s still the Major Leagues, still a Major League game today that we’re trying to win. It’s cliché, the next-man-up-type situation. I feel like I’ve said it maybe too many times already this year, but it’s kind of part of our story and our year, and so we’ve got to figure out a way to win and different ways to win. …

“Those guys out there in the bullpen have been really, really good. I don’t want to abuse them. They have a career also that you have to be concerned with and worry about, and making sure that they feel good as well. I’ve never seen a rotation this decimated before this early in the season. It’s June, and almost our whole rotation pretty much besides Trevor [Rogers] is on the IL. It’s kind of crazy.”