Marlins Select Javy Guerra

The Marlins announced Monday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Javy Guerra from Triple-A New Orleans. In a series of corresponding moves, the Fish transferred left-hander Caleb Smith to the 60-day DL and placed righty Drew Rucinski on the 10-day DL due to a right groin strain. Additionally, J.T. Realmuto is headed out on paternity leave and has been replaced by Chad Wallach, who was recalled from New Orleans.

Guerra, 32, has rattled off 16 2/3 shutout innings with a 24-to-3 K/BB ratio and a 58.1 percent ground-ball rate in a dozen relief appearances with New Orleans so far in 2018. Once the Dodgers closer for a brief period, back in 2011, Guerra totaled just eight MLB innings from 2015-16 before returning a 21-inning stint with the Marlins in the second half last season.

Through 177 2/3 big league innings, Guerra has a strong 2.99 ERA, albeit with just 7.1 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9 and a 45.1 percent ground-ball rate. Though he has generally had solid numbers in the Majors, Guerra’s career has been slowed by myriad injuries (elbow, shoulder, knee, oblique), and he also served a 50-game suspension in 2015 (for a drug of abuse — not a performance-enhancing substance).

Smith’s season was already known to be over after the promising young lefty was diagnosed with a Grade 3 lat strain that required surgical repair. Realmuto, meanwhile, can remain on paternity leave for up to three days before returning to the team.