MIAMI — Not that the Marlins have done much hitting period, but they’ve actually been a little better against left-handed pitching.

They will put that to the test on Wednesday night, when they face the Nationals and southpaw Ross Detwiler at Marlins Park.

For the year, the Marlins are batting .220 while facing lefties, compared to a .203 average against right-handers.

The problem is Detwiler has been simply dominanting, posting a 0.69 ERA.

The Marlins wrap up their nine-game homestand on Wednesday, and with a win, they’d take their first series of the season.

Miami is going with a number of right-handed hitters, including Austin Kearns getting the start in right field, and Miguel Olivo catching.

Ricky Nolasco, the franchise’s all-time wins leader with 76, is seeking his first victory.

MARLINS

1) Pierre, LF
2) Solano, 2B
3) Polanco, 3B
4) Ruggiano, CF
5) Dobbs, 1B
6) Kearns, RF
7) Olivo, C
8) Valaika, SS
9) Nolasco, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Willing to try just about anything to wake up a slumbering offense, the Marlins on Tuesday afternoon brought out the real heavy lumber.

During early batting practice, Justin Ruggiano created a moment of levity for a team in need of something to smile about.

So as a handful of players were taking their rounds hitting, Ruggiano lugged out an oversized bat with the Marlins’ logo on it.

When you’re last in the league in runs scored, and hadn’t generated much of anything at the plate, you try just about anything. Mostly, the players got a good laugh. Giancarlo Stanton, the club’s towering right fielder, had some fun with the prop.

No one actually took a swing with the bat, but its presence made an impact, even if it only lightened the mood.

“I’m afraid someone might get hurt swinging that thing,” manager Mike Redmond said. “We can’t afford any more injurires.”

As fate would have it, the Marlins went out and defeated the Nationals, 8-2, scoring a season-high run total.

After the game, Redmond noted that bat would be traveling with the team on its road trip, which begins on Thursday at Cincinnati.

Asked about getting the bat through security, Redmond noted, “It could be on the seat next to me on the plane.”

Before the game, Redmond quipped: “That thing is heavy. It’s like my bat felt like at the end of my career.”

Where did the bat come from?

“I have no idea,” Redmond said. “Those things just appear. Maybe it’s someone telling us something, we need bigger bats.”

Actually, there is a story about how the bat mysteriously arrived. It turns out it was more a coincidence. And the bat belongs to Cullen McRae, the Marlins’ video coordinator.

McRae’s friend, Robin Jennings, owns a company called Big Ash Bats. Jennings was a college teammate of McRae, and he spent some time in the big leagues with the Cubs and the Reds.

The 5-foot bat was sent as a birthday gift for McRae.

“It just so happened, when I opened it up, Ruggiano was in my office,” McRae said. “When I opened it up, he grabbed it and ran out on the field with it. It’s real wood.

“It’s a complete coincidence. The box came and Ruggiano was looking at video when I opened the box. And that day we scored a bunch of runs.”

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Some reason for optimism after Giancarlo Stanton took early batting practice on Tuesday afternoon.

The Marlins slugger tested his bruised left shoulder, and he didn’t experience any discomfort.

“He took batting practice, and we’re just going to wait and see the way it responds,” manager Mike Redmond said. “He hasn’t done anything in five days. We’ll see how it feels throughout the day, and tomorrow, and we’ll go from there.”

Stanton last took BP on Friday, but he was scratched after experiencing some discomfort. An MRI taken on Saturday revealed a bruise, and he has felt a pinch when raising his arm. But on Tuesday, he was considerably better, and tested the shoulder.

Still, he isn’t ready to return. The team will see how the shoulder feels on Wednesday.

“He said it felt good, it felt a lot better,” Redmond said. “That’s encouraging. We’ll have to wait and see. I’m hoping that he shows up tomorrow and it feels even better. That will be a real encouraging sign.”

Also on Tuesday, Austin Kearns was back with the team. Kearns did some throwing and catching, but he hasn’t been cleared to resume baseball activities.

Kearns was hospitalized overnight on Sunday due to an irregular heartbeat.

First baseman Joe Mahoney, on the DL with a strained intercostal, continues his rehab assignment with Class A Jupiter. The left-handed hitting first baseman could be close to returning.

There also is some encouragement at the Minor League level. Christian Yelich was used as the designated hitter in an extended spring game in Jupiter. Yelich went hitless in four at-bats. He has been out with a left heel bruise.

Outfielders Jake Marisnick (broken left hand) and Marcell Ozuna (broken left wrist) have been playing in extended spring games, but they are now expected to join Class A Jupiter. Both are expected to join Double-A Jacksonville in a few days when the Suns return from their road trip.

Right-hander Jacob Turner, in Triple-A, was struck on the leg by a comeback drive in his last start. He was taken out of the game. The right-hander still may make his next scheduled start. If not, he isn’t expected to miss more than one start.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Looking to try anything to get the offense moving, Marlins manager Mike Redmond made a switch at the top of the order.

On Tuesday night, Chris Coghlan moved into the leadoff spot, with Juan Pierre dropping to second in the lineup.

Coghlan last batted leadoff on June 15, 2011 in the first game of a day/night doubleheader at Philadelphia.

It’s the first time this season someone other than Pierre led off for Miami, which is off to its second worst start in franchise history.

The Marlins are hoping to even their three-game series with the Nationals at Marlins Park.

In Monday’s 10-3 loss, Coghlan had his first multi-hit game since going 2-for-4 on June 3, 2012 at Philadelphia. Also in the game, Coghlan had two assists from the outfield. It’s the 20th time in club history an outfielder has had at least two assists in a game. Giancarlo Stanton did it last, on Sept. 24, 2010. The franchise record is three, done twice — Joe Orsulak (Sept. 7, 1996 against Montreal) and Mark Kotsay achieved the feat on July 16, 2000 at Baltimore.

MARLINS

1) Coghlan, RF
2) Pierre, LF
3) Polanco, 3B
4) Dobbs, 1B
5) Ruggiano, CF
6) Brantly, C
7) Hechavarria, SS
8) Solano, 2B
9) Sanabia, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — A link to Jackie Robinson’s days with the Brooklyn Dodgers was at Marlins Park on Monday night.

Norman Berman, a West Palm Beach resident and Brooklyn native, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Marlins faced the Nationals.

Berman, who turns 85 on April 30, was 19-years-old when he joined the Dodgers as their ball boy in 1947, the year Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.

When he learned he was invited to throw out the first pitch, Berman began practicing. Although he walks with the assistance of a cane, he won’t be using any support to make his pregame toss.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Berman was an aspiring ballplayer, an undersized second baseman who actually was once part of the Dodgers system. Because of his slender size, he was considered too small.

Berman made $7 a game being the ball boy. He’d sit on a chair a few feet away from the Dodgers dugout at Ebbets Field.

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton still feels discomfort in his left shoulder, so on Monday afternoon the Marlins slugger went back to be examined by the team doctors.

The team did receive good news as Austin Kearns was discharged from University of Miami Hospital, after spending the night to be observed for an irregular heartbeat.

In the short-term, both outfielders will miss at least another couple of days. And the Marlins are weighing whether one or both of them will be placed on the disabled list.

“The good news is, Kearns has been discharged from the hospital,” manager Mike Redmond said. “He’s on his way over [to the ballpark] but he hasn’t been cleared for baseball activities. He’s got a couple of more tests to do tomorrow. He will be here tonight. Definitely, that’s great news that he seems like he’s going to be alright.”

Stanton is missing his fourth straight game due to his sore left shoulder. He was injured while making a diving catch on April 6 at New York.

“Stanton is the same,” Redmond said. “He’s still not able to do any baseball stuff either. He says his shoulder is still sore. We’re playing shorthanded. We can’t play shorthanded for too long. It’s too tough.”

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, and at Marlins Park players from both teams will all be wearing No. 42 in honor of the man who broke the game’s color barrier.

As part of the pregame ceremonies, Norman Berman, a Palm Beach County resident, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Berman was a ball boy for the Brooklyn Dodgers when Robinson played.

The Marlins on Monday open a three-game set with the Nationals at Marlins Park. Wade LeBlanc gets the starting nod for Miami, while Jordan Zimmermann will pitch for the Nationals.

MARLINS

1) Pierre, LF
2) Coghlan, CF
3) Polanco, 3B
4) Dobbs, 1B
5) Ruggiano, RF
6) Brantly, C
7) Hechavarria, SS
8) Solano, 2B
9) LeBlanc, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Marlins outfielder Austin Kearns was sent to the hospital on Sunday morning where it was revealed he had an irregular heartbeat.

Initially, Kearns was in Miami’s starting lineup to play against the Phillies in the series finale at Marlins Park.

But shortly after arriving at the ballpark, Kearns complained about an elevated heartbeat. He was checked initially by the team trainers, before he was sent to a local hospital for further evaluation.

“He came in with some with a speeding heart rate,” manager Mike Redmond said. “He went immediately to the hospital to be checked out.”

The Marlins have been hindered by injuries since the start of the season. The team has been without Giancarlo Stanton for the entire series with the Phillies due to a left shoulder bruise. And Justin Ruggiano was scratched from the lineup on Saturday due to a tight right groin. Ruggiano started in place of Kearns in right field on Sunday.

Injuries have been piling up since the end of Spring Training. The day before the season started, starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez were each placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. And two games into the season, first baseman Casey Kotchman strained his left hamstring, and was placed on the DL

“Obviously, we’ve had a lot of stuff starting from the last week of Spring Training, losing two starters,” Redmond said. “And losing your first baseman. Stanton is out. Kearns is out. Ruggiano has a tight groin. My first two weeks of managing in the Major Leagues has definitely been an adventure.”

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — Chris Coghlan’s walk-off infield single on Saturday night gave the Marlins their first home victory of the season.

In the 2-1 win over the Phillies, did the Marlins receive their first “home field” advantage?

A factor in the game just might have been the new turf at Marlins Park. The type of grass being used this year right now plays faster than a year ago.

The Marlins may have capitalized by the turf in the fifth inning when they scored their first run. Adeiny Hechavarria laced a liner over second baseman Chase Utley’s head. The ball whistled along the turf into the gap and past right fielder Laynce Nix. When the ball rolled to the wall, Hechavarria finished with a triple.

He scored on Jose Fernandez’s single to left.

And in the ninth inning, with the infield in, Coghlan tapped a grounder that wasn’t handled cleanly by Utley. It was ruled a single, and Placido Polanco scored the game-winning run.

Marlins Park, which opened in 2012, has a different type of turf this year.

A year ago, the brand of turf was called Celebration. It had a tough time growing because of the unpredictable rain patterns at Marlins Park. The need to close the roof prevented the grass from getting steady stretches of sunlight.

The park now has two different styles of grass. In the field and foul territory is Platinum TE Paspalum, and in the outfield is Tifway 419, a type of Bermuda grass, which is similar to what is used at Turner Field in Atlanta.

A couple of days ago, Miami outfielder Justin Ruggiano noted the turf now plays fast.

“I found myself in BP, I had to take deeper routes, and make deeper angles to balls,” Ruggiano said recently to MLB.com. “It skips like off a fairway, like on a golf course. But it’s good. We’ll get used to it. Play it to our advantage, hopefully.”

Maybe Miami got its first taste of home cooking on Saturday.

The Marlins wrap up their three-game set with the Phillies on Sunday afternoon. Kevin Slowey gets the nod against Roy Halladay.

LINEUP

1) Pierre, LF
2) Coghlan, CF
3) Polanco, 3B
4) Dobbs, 1B
5) Ruggiano, RF
6) Brantly, C
7) Valaika, 2B
8) Hechavarria, SS
9) Slowey, P

– Joe Frisaro

MIAMI — For the second straight day, Giancarlo Stanton was not in the Marlins lineup.

The encouraging news is the All-Star right fielder isn’t dealing with a serious injury. An MRI on Saturday morning showed Stanton has a left shoulder contusion.

The team lists Stanton as day to day.

Miami’s lackluster offense certainly could use Stanton, who initially felt discomfort while making a diving catch on April 6 at New York. The slugger took batting practice on Friday, but he was scratched from the lineup.

Austin Kearns is filling in for Stanton in right field.

Miami has dropped six straight and they are 1-9 heading into Saturday night against the Phillies at Marlins Park.

Rookie Jose Fernandez, the 20-year-old phenon, makes his second big league start. Cole Hamels is starting for Philadelphia.

MARLINS

1) Pierre, LF
2) Solano, 2B
3) Polanco, 3B
4) Kearns, RF
5) Dobbs, 1B
6) Ruggiano, CF
7) Brantly, C
8) Hechavarria, SS
9) Fernandez, P

– Joe Frisaro