Justin Ruggiano was scratched from Saturday's starting lineup because of tightness in his right groin.

The Marlins are calling him day-to-day. Ruggiano has one homer, four RBI and three steals through 10 games.

Justin Ruggiano has 31 plate appearances to Chris Coghlan's 12 plate appearances so far this season.

The Marlins have faced quite a few left-handers in the early going, which has helped lead to more playing time for Ruggiano, but he's also drawn a couple starts against righties. Ruggiano is batting just .233/.258/.433, but he does have a homer and a couple steals. Coghlan, meanwhile, has just one single in his 12 plate appearances. This started out as a platoon, but the smart money would be on Ruggiano grabbing the job and running with it.

Justin Ruggiano struck out in both of his at-bats in his spring debut Saturday.

Ruggiano, the Marlins' likely regular center fielder, had been absent due to a strained lower back.

Justin Ruggiano (back) is in the Marlins' lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Justin Ruggiano has "still got to earn" the starting center field job.

Ruggiano batted .313 with 13 homers and 36 RBI in 91 games last season for the Marlins and entered camp as the clear favorite to start in center, but he's been slowed by a back injury. "He did a nice job last year but he's still got to earn it,'' Redmond said. "What you did last year, it does count, but at the same time it's, what have you done for me lately in a way, right?'' Ruggiano, who hopes to make his spring debut Saturday, is facing competition mainly from Chris Coghlan, who is hitting .300 in Grapefruit play and went 4-for-4 Tuesday against Venezuela. "He's definitely making a case for himself,'' Redmond said of Coghlan. Gorkys Hernandez, Bryan Petersen and Kevin Mattison also are in the mix.

Justin Ruggiano (back) is aiming to make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday.

Ruggiano has yet to play this spring due to a lower back strain, but he has increased baseball activities in recent days and hasn't encountered any setbacks. If healthy, he should serve as the Marlins' starting center fielder this season.

Justin Ruggiano (back) took live batting practice on Wednesday morning in Marlins camp.

Ruggiano has been slowed in camp for the past several days with a lower back strain. But he's ramping up his workouts now and should be back in the Marlins' Grapefruit League lineup by early next week. Ruggiano is expected to serve as Miami's starting center fielder in 2013.

Justin Ruggiano (back) is still about 10 days away from game action.

Ruggiano has resumed throwing after straining his lower back last Thursday, but he's not swinging a bat yet. An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage, but the Marlins aren't ready to push him at this point. If healthy, Ruggiano will open the season as the club's starting center fielder.

Justin Ruggiano (back) hopes to resume full baseball activities next week.

Ruggiano has yet to play this spring due to a strained lower back. He did some light throwing Thursday and also tracked some pitches, but isn't ready to swing a bat. However, barring any setbacks, he should still have enough time to get ready for the season. The 30-year-old entered camp as the favorite for the center fielder job.

Justin Ruggiano underwent an MRI on his sore lower back Thursday.

Ruggiano's back tightened up on him Thursday and is still tight Friday. The Marlins are calling the outfielder day-to-day for now, but we should know more once the results of the MRI are revealed.

Justin Ruggiano is day-to-day after his back tightened up during fielding drills Thursday.

Ruggiano might miss the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, but he should be good to go before long. The 30-year-old enters spring training as the favorite for the starting center fielder job, though some regression is likely on the way in 2013.

Justin Ruggiano has the "inside edge" to open the 2013 season as the Marlins' starting center fielder.

Ruggiano was one of few bright spots for the Marlins last season, posting a .313/.374/.535 batting line, 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 91 games. Even with the signing of Juan Pierre, he remains the favorite to start in center field. Miami is also expected to give Chris Coghlan and Rule 5 pick Alfredo Silverio an extended look in spring training.

Justin Ruggiano (shoulder) has indeed been shut down for the remainder of the 2012 season.

Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen hinted as much on Wednesday afternoon. Ruggiano suffered a sprained shoulder last week when he dove for a ball in the outfield. He won't need surgery but doesn't have enough time to heal before the conclusion of MLB's regular season.

Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday that he doesn't expect Justin Ruggiano (shoulder) to return.

Ruggiano has been out since last Friday with a sprained right shoulder that he suffering while attempting a diving catch and hasn't been making much progress. He was one of few bright spots in a down season for the Marlins, posting a .313/.374/.535 batting line, 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 91 games. He also stole 14 bases and showed impressive defensive range in the Miami outfield.

Justin Ruggiano is out indefinitely with a sprained right shoulder.

Ruggiano injured himself while making an unsuccessful diving attempt at a ball Friday. One of the season's bigger fantasy surprises, Ruggiano is batting .313/.374/.535 with 13 homers and 14 steals over 91 games. Bryan Petersen is making a second straight start in left field Sunday.

Justin Ruggiano left Friday's game in the fifth inning after injuring his shoulder while attempting to make a diving catch on Scott Hairston's triple.

Ruggiano was able to get up and walk off the field under his own power, and was diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain. Bryan Petersen replaced him in left field, and would likely draw starts there if Ruggiano needs to miss a few games.

Justin Ruggiano was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Phillies in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.

Ruggiano took exception to Clint Fagan's strike three call on a pitch that was way inside. Austin Kearns took his spot in left field.

Justin Ruggiano delivered another strong offensive performance in a loss to the Phillies on Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

He also scored a run and stole a base. The sample size has grown large enough now to call what Ruggiano has done this season extremely impressive. Through 250 at-bats, he's hitting .319 with 13 homers, 35 RBI and 13 steals.

Justin Ruggiano returned to action on Sunday August 19.

Justin Ruggiano left Wednesday's game against the Phillies after three innings with a right oblique strain.

Ruggiano struck out swinging in two at-bats before being replaced by Gorkys Hernandez in center field. Oblique strains can be pretty tricky, so he may require a stint on the disabled list.