Hand will be in the discussion to join Miami's rotation this week, the Miami Herald reports. Injuries to Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) and Mat Latos (knee) have left the Marlins searching for a starter for Tuesday's game. Hand pitched well while competing for a starting spot during spring training, but has pitched pretty poorly out of the bullpen this season, racking up a 5.56 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 22.1 innings pitched. The lefty has more experience than most of Miami's other options, however, so he remains a contender for the spot.

Hand was lit up for five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning Tuesday against the Dodgers. Hand missed out on a rotation spot following a brilliant spring effort and has since floundered in middle relief for the Marlins. The lefty swingman holds a miserable 6.48 ERA and 1.68 WHIP over 16.2 innings pitched while allowing opponents to bat .329 against him. Despite the current uncertainty in Miami's bullpen, Hand won't see too many high-leverage situations until he begins to pitch better.

Hand took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on three hits while recording just two outs in relief against the Mets. Hand has been roughed up in his last two appearances, allowing five earned runs on six hits over 3.2 innings pitched. After losing out on a rotation spot in the spring, Hand was again passed over in favor of David Phelps when Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) hit the disabled list. He'll remain in the bullpen as a swing man for the foreseeable future.

Hand will start Friday's game against the Astros in place of Jarred Cosart (hand), Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. Hand has appeared in four games this spring, scattering seven hits and two earned runs over 10.0 cumulative innings. He's fighting for a role in the Marlins' rotation, but it's possible he could open the season in the bullpen if he loses out on a starting role.

Hand spun four shutout innings Tuesday against the Mets, keeping himself in the running for the Marlins' fifth starter role. Tom Koehler entered camp as the incumbent and favorite to grab the job but has been out-pitched by both Brad Hand and David Phelps in Grapefruit League action. Hand has looked solid over eight spring innings, but struggled with command at times, walking six batters against four strikeouts. Both Hand and Phelps will be in the mix for bullpen roles if they lose out on rotation spots and the fact that Hand is out of options could play in his favor as final cuts are made.

Hand will prepare as a starter during spring training though his role for the season is yet to be determined, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.Hand split time between the rotation and bullpen last season, registering a 4.38 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 111 total innings (16 starts and 16 relief appearances). Henderson Alvarez, Mat Latos, Jared Cosart, Dan Haren and Tom Koehler project as the Marlins' top five starters so Hand will compete with David Phelps to claim a role as a swingman. Hand is out of minor league options, potentially giving him an inside track to break camp with the club this season.

Hand allowed one run on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in a no-decision Wednesday against the Phillies. Hand's only blemish was an RBI double by his counterpart Kyle Kendrick in the top of the seventh inning. The 24-year-old finishes the season with a 4.59 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 65:36 K:BB ratio in 104 innings.

Hand surrendered six runs -- five earned -- and eight hits in five innings against Washington on Thursday. He did not issue a walk and struck out four. Hand was cruising early on, but allowed five runs in the fourth inning. He had been respectable lately, allowing just two runs in his previous two starts, a span of 12 innings. The Marlins have an off day next week, so Hand won't make two starts, and will instead have his final appearance of the year against Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Hand took the loss Saturday against the Phillies despite tossing six solid innings of two-run ball. Hand was out-dueled by Kyle Kendrick, dropping him to 3-7 on the year. He struck out four without a walk during the outing, lowering his season ERA to 4.36 to go along with a 1.35 WHIP over 99 innings pitched between the rotation and the bullpen. He'll look to collect his third straight quality start Thursday against the Nationals.

Hand pitched six innings of scoreless ball in a win over Atlanta on Sunday, giving up four hits while recording three strikeouts and zero walks. Despite Sunday's effective start, with Henderson Alvarez (oblique) close to a return, it remains to be seen if Hand will stick in the rotation. The southpaw owns a 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP following the win over the Braves.