Marlins place Max Meyer (neck strain) on 15-day IL

HOUSTON, TX — On Monday afternoon, the Miami Marlins placed Max Meyer on the 15-day IL due to a neck strain. He will be eligible to return beginning on August 3.

"It popped up for the first time in that start versus Seattle at home pre All-Star break," manager Clayton McCullough said. "He felt a sensation in the neck area in that outing and we went with the the extra time. He felt much better with that time down and was able to get through his throwing and bullpens. We all felt he was in a good place to go make that start after the break, and then third inning of the game in Milwaukee, he said he felt a similar sensation there. Felt like it was worth going to get some further examination on that, and he went out to to L.A. to get that looked."

Meyer this season has made 20 starts posting a 2.68 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 9.81 K/9 and a 3.32 BB/9. He was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game along with Otto Lopez. His 111 innings pitched is already a career-high.

To temporarily take Meyer's spot on the active roster, the team recalled right-hander Zach Brzykcy from Triple-A Jacksonville. We have seen the Marlins successfully use bullpen games this year to fill in for injured starters, but they could also call up a more traditional replacement prior to Friday's game (originally scheduled to be Meyer's next start). McCullough said they'll base that decision on how the Houston Astros series goes.

Already on the 26-man roster, Ryan Gusto can go multiple innings and has already started six games this season at the big league level. Meanwhile, veteran Braxton Garrett in his last 31 innings at Triple-A has a 0.29 ERA. Garrett made two starts at the big league level during the month of May, but struggled with control, walking eight total batters. Overall, in 14 Jumbo Shrimp appearances (13 starts), Garrett has a 1.52 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 9.76 K/9 and 3.30 BB/9.

The Marlins and Astros begin a three-game set at 8:10 pm ET. Janson Junk will make his second start since coming back from his own IL stint.