Major League Baseball

Marlins notes: Christian Yelich hoping for short stay on DL

Published Apr. 25, 2015 2:25 p.m. ET

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MIAMI -- Miami Marlins Gold Glove outfielder Christian Yelich remains optimistic he will be activated from the disabled list on May 5 when the ballclub visits the Washington Nationals.

Yelich, who began feeling discomfort in his lower back during the final game of Miami's first homestand on April 11, tried playing through it the following day before sitting out the final two games in Atlanta. He returned to the lineup for the four-game series in New York, but struggled. He landed on the DL after sitting out all three games in Philadelphia to close the roadtrip.

"I don't see why not," Yelich said of coming back on the earliest possible date. "As long as everything feels fine. ... Ideally, that's the best-case scenario. That's something that's attainable. Just got to go day-to-day with it and see how it feels. It's feeling better every day, and that's encouraging."

The 23-year-old underwent an MRI on Friday, which showed a slight bulge in one of his disks. Last season, Yelich went on the DL in June with a similar injury. He came off it following the 15-day stint.

Yelich anticipates being OK in a few days as long as takes care of the issue with strength exercises. Though Yelich is still unsure of the bulged disk's origin, he guessed it may have stemmed from an incident last year caused by weakness in his glutes and lower back. 

"It's pretty much the same thing," Yelich said. "Slightly less this time compared to last year. Not nearly as bad. Still just discomfort, not a whole lot of range in motion. It just takes time. It's about Day 5, 6 now. Starting to get a little bit looser, feel a little bit better. You have to do all the progression stuff and everything that will get you back on the field."

In 11 games, Yelich is batting just .200 with four runs, a double, four RBI, four walks and 13 strikeouts. 

CISKEK FINISHES IT OUT

Closer Steve Cishek recorded his first save of the season in Friday's 3-2 win over the Nationals, as the Marlins became the last ballclub to notch a save in 2015. It came in the 17th game, which matched the same long stretch of 2013.

"First one's always the toughest I feel like just 'cause you want to get it out of the way," Cishek said, "Happy to get that done and over with."

GET A BREATHER

First baseman Michael Morse sat out for the first time this season. Justin Bour, recalled from Triple-A New Orleans, started in his place and batted fifth for Saturday's game against the Nationals. Marcell Ozuna moved into Morse's cleanup spot.

Over his last nine games, Morse is hitting .182 (6 for 33) with nine strikeouts and just two RBI.

"Just giving him the day," manager Mike Redmond said. "We've been grinding pretty good coming off a long roadtrip and the day games -- I consider this to be a day game. And then another day game tomorrow. Try to start getting some of these bench guys in some games now that I feel like we've gotten going. We can't grind these guys out every single night."

WORTH NOTING

In other injury news, All-Star right-hander Henderson Alvarez will long toss and has already played catch. Alvarez, who is nursing right shoulder and elbow inflammation, will throw a bullpen midweek. Utility player Don Kelly and catcher Jeff Mathis will visit the hand specialist on Thursday for their respective fractures.

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

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