Marlins place Burger on IL with intercostal strain, option Meyer
The league-worst Miami Marlins are now down their best hitter.
Miami placed third baseman Jake Burger on the 10-day injured list with a left intercostal muscle strain, they announced Monday.
Burger apparently suffered the injury on a first-inning swing during Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Braves. He felt more side discomfort while running out a ground ball and on a defensive chance, prompting Miami to remove him in the fourth inning.
Burger spent 10 days on the IL with a minor left oblique strain - in the same area as his intercostal injury - last May as a member of the Chicago White Sox.
The 28-year-old has been one of the 3-13 Marlins' only consistent hitters this year. He's sporting a .228/.281/.421 slash line with a team-high three home runs and 15 RBIs through his first 16 games.
In a corresponding roster move, Miami recalled utility player Otto Lopez, who will start at third base and bat ninth Monday against the San Francisco Giants. Lopez, who Miami claimed off waivers from the Giants on April 4, can fill in at third, second, or shortstop and also has experience playing all three outfield positions. He last appeared in the majors in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Miami also activated right-hander Edward Cabrera, who will start Monday's game, from the IL. The 26-year-old was rehabbing from a right shoulder impingement suffered during spring training. He'll start in place of A.J. Puk, who's sidelined because of an illness.
In a corresponding move for Cabrera, the Marlins optioned rookie Max Meyer to Triple-A Jacksonville. The 25-year-old has been the Marlins' best starter this year, putting up a 2.12 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and only three walks in his first three starts. However, the team is likely monitoring his workload, as he missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery.
The Marlins plan to have Meyer pitch once a week in Jacksonville, with his outings lasting approximately three innings, manager Skip Schumaker told reporters, including Isaac Azout of Fish On First.