Major League Baseball

Marlins ace Fernandez to have next rehab start with Triple-A New Orleans team

Published Jun. 14, 2015 1:10 p.m. ET

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MIAMI -- Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez's next rehab start will be this Wednesday with Triple-A New Orleans rather than Single-A Jupiter.

Fernandez, whose first two outings came with the Hammerheads, will throw between 75-80 pitches for the Zephyrs when they visit Round Rock. Following Friday's outing in Jupiter, the tentative plan called for a trip to Viera, Florida, where Jupiter faces Brevard County.

"It was basically just to put him in against a little higher level of competition," manager Dan Jennings said of the change. "Some of the minor-league schedules are going to be moved a little bit here and there. We're trying to pick our spots to put him in the best situation where we make sure he gets the work that he needs and do it at that level. We got All-Star breaks coming up in the Florida State League and different things like that that are going to factor in."

The 22-year-old righty tossed five scoreless, two-hit innings on Friday against Port Charlotte. In his rehab debut on June 6, he allowed five runs on eight hits to the Stone Crabs.

Should all go according to plan, Fernandez would return from Tommy John surgery in early July. A possible date is July 2 when the Marlins host the San Francisco Giants. Fernandez last pitched on a big-league mound on May 9, 2014, at San Diego.

"He is making the next step," Jennings said. "Every rehab start that he has will be a test, and based upon what he does and how he comes out of that then if he passes that test he'll go to the next test. Right now based on the other night and the way he feels things are moving in the right direction."

Right-hander Jarred Cosart, on the disabled list retroactive May 14 with vertigo, will start on Tuesday for Triple-A New Orleans in what will likely be his last outing before rejoining the Marlins on their roadtrip.

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.

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