CINCINNATI -- Don Mattingly doesn't want anyone feeling sorry for the Miami Marlins. Yes, the Marlins are likely to be without Home Run Derby champion Giancarlo Stanton for the rest of the season after the slugger suffered a Grade 3 groin strain this past weekend, but that doesn't mean hopes for the franchise's first postseason berth since the World Series championship season of 2003 are kaput.
The Marlins are 2-0 without Stanton and will be seeking to make it three in a row (and four games straight overall) when they face former teammate Anthony DeSclafani Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Reds acquired DeSclafani in a December 2014 trade that sent pitcher Mat Latos to the Marlins.
Coverage begins Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Ohio
DeSclafani won his first six decisions after starting the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. He suffered his first loss of the season in his last outing when he gave up three runs on six hits in five innings in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis. He's walked five batters in his last 11 innings after walking just seven in his previous 52 2/3 innings.
"I'm in the midst of trying to get a better feel and get back on a better roll," said DeSclafani. "I've been walking some guys and I'm trying to get back to filling up the strike zone and throwing better quality pitches. I feel as if I haven't done that as of late."
DeSclafani has faced the Marlins once since the trade, taking the loss in a 5-0 defeat at GABP last season. He allowed three runs on four hits in five innings in that game.
Mattingly announced late Monday night that right-hander Jose Urena will be recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to start Tuesday against the Reds. Urena is 1-3 in 19 appearances (three starts) for the Marlins this season. The loss of Adam Conley to the disabled list has left a spot open in the Marlins' rotation.
Mattingly said he has faith in the team as it is made up now even without Stanton, who has 25 home runs and 70 RBIs. The Marlins are tied with St. Louis for the second National League wild-card spot.
"You just want to move forward with your club because you don't have time to look back and go 'Ohhhh, we're not going to be as good,' " said Mattingly. "I don't say this in a negative way about Giancarlo because in the past I think when you'd read about the Marlins it was Giancarlo and all of these little guys with him. Now, we've got a lot of good players here. It's really an insult to the rest of them to think we can't do anything without Giancarlo."
Left fielder Christian Yelich and third baseman Martin Prado each have 40 multi-hit games to lead the team. Prado has driven in 20 runs since July 27. Center fielder Marcell Ozuna has been struggling over his last 15 games (9-for-55) but he has doubled and homered in the last two games after going 11 straight games without an extra-base hit.
"It's not too much pressure because we know we have the ability to play this game," said Ozuna. "We have a lot of young guys here, a lot of guys with talent and we have fun out there. That's the most important part to winning more games."
The Reds sat shortstop Zack Cozart and second baseman Brandon Phillips in Monday's (6-3) loss to the Marlins. For Cozart, who did pinch hit in the ninth inning and drew a walk, it was a scheduled day off but Phillips was dealing with a knee contusion suffered on a recent road trip.
Center fielder Billy Hamilton was banged up against the Marlins Monday night. He twice ran into the wall in the outfield; he took extra bases away from Ozuna in the first inning but couldn't come down with a ball off of Prado's bat in the third, a hit that went for a triple. Hamilton left the game with a knee contusion.
Phillips and Hamilton will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
"Billy has a contusion. He ran into the wall twice," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "Basically, the entire side of his body from his shoulder to his knee is a contusion. The knee was more prominent."
