Yelich hopes to rejoin Marlins this week after rehab stint in Jupiter

Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich said Saturday he will play rehab assignment games for Class A Jupiter the next three days and is aiming to return for Thursday’s series opener in San Francisco.

Yelich, who hasn’t played since April 19 against the Mets because of a lower back strain, is eligible to be reinstated as early as Wednesday, when the Marlins will be at Washington.

He took batting practice before Saturday’s game against the Phillies after resuming hitting on Wednesday.

“I feel fine,” Yelich said. “It’s all good.”

Of Yelich returning Thursday, Marlins manager Mike Redmond said, “We’ll see how he feels and how he does (in Jupiter). A lot of it depends on how he’s feeling.”

Asked how he’ll continue to get at-bats for Yelich’s replacement, Ichiro Suzuki, after Yelich returns, Redmond laughed.

“I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” he said. “We’ll figure it out.

In other injury news, right-handers Mat Latos (left hamstring strain) and Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder) each threw a bullpen session Saturday.

“Big day for those two. Hopefully, everything goes well for both guys,” Redmond said. “With Henderson, if everything goes well today, we’ll see about him next week going out and starting to pitch and ramp up again.”

Alvarez, the Marlins’ Opening Day starter, felt discomfort against the Rays on April 12 and was placed on the disabled list the following day.

Latos, who left Wednesday’s game against the Mets in the fifth inning due to his injury, said before his bullpen session that he threw Friday and felt “alright,” but “sore” on Saturday.