Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets day off after slow start to season
MIAMI -- Miami Marlins backup catcher Jeff Mathis got the start in Wednesday's finale against the Atlanta Braves.
Mathis filled in for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has opened the season hitless in seven at-bats with five strikeouts and a double play with the bases loaded.
Manager Mike Redmond intended to put Mathis into the lineup at some point during the series, and Wednesday happened to be the occasion. In 2014, Mathis appeared in 64 games (52 starts), hitting .200 with seven doubles, two homers and 12 RBI. Aside from Don Kelly and Jeff Baker, Miami's other bench players have made their 2015 debuts.
"I want to try to incorporate him just like I do our pitchers," Redmond said of Mathis. "Get these guys out and get them into game situations as quick as we possibly can. So tonight's Matty's night."
There is some urgency when it comes to Saltalamacchia's production after a down year in 2014. In his return to the National League, he hit a career-low .220 with 20 doubles, 11 homers and 44 RBI. Behind the plate, he committed a major-league high 15 errors.
"It's just a slow start," Redmond said. "It's two games. Slow start. We've got a few guys off to a slow start. Like I said I'm not too overexcited about eight at-bats or six at-bats when you're talking about guys getting five or six months."
BULLPEN WORK
Through the season's first two games, Redmond has already used seven relievers.
With righty Mat Latos lasting just 2/3 inning Tuesday, five relievers collected the final 25 outs in a 12-2 loss.
Lefty Brad Hand, who threw 4 1/3 scoreless, one-hit innings on 70 pitches, came in first. During the spring, he had built up his pitch count to just 50, so he was in "unchartered waters" Tuesday.
The Marlins intended on staying away from him on Wednesday, but he should be good to go, Friday for the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"We talked about it in spring training a little bit, carrying the extra long guy, having (David) Phelps and Hand is nice for situations like that," Redmond said. "Ideally we're not anticipating it being that quick, but it happens. Brad Hand did a great job. Where would we have been had Brad not given us those innings?"
Redmond pulled closer Steve Cishek after 24 pitches and one out in the ninth. Following a leadoff flyout, Cishek walked Nick Markakis and allowed a single to Freddie Freeman. He loaded the bases by walking Christian Bethancourt before pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo's single.
Phelps gave up an RBI single to Chris Johnson before striking out Andrelton Simmons. Cameron Maybin capped the scoring with a two-run single.
"It was a struggle for him, but he's available to go tonight," Redmond said of Cishek. "We have an off day tomorrow. That's why we took him out. We didn't want him to have to throw more than that. We had to use almost everybody yesterday."
WORTH NOTING
Right-handed reliever Aaron Crow underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets team physician, performed the procedure in New York.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
