MIAMI _ The Marlins achieved a dramatic victory on the field Sunday, but it was overshadowed by a bigger loss.
Before their 5-4 victory against the White Sox, star outfield Giancarlo Stanton underwent an MRI that revealed he has a Grade 3 strain of his left groin.
The injury will keep Stanton out at least six weeks, making it unlikely he will play again this season, Michael Hill, Marlins president of baseball operations said.
"The best-case scenario is a six-week return. Obviously, there is still opportunity for G to be back before the season's end, but obviously it was a significant injury and we'll see how rehab goes," Hill said.
Hill said Marlins officials are beginning the process of examining options from outside the organization to add a player and said former Yankee Alex Rodriguez will receive consideration.
"We're putting our list together of options and he's an available player, so he'll be on that list and we'll see where it goes," said Hill of Rodriguez, who was released by New York on Friday and is expected to clear waivers Monday.
"I think we're going to look at everything. There's been information out there about his situation. I have no idea what his interest level is to continue to playing.
Stanton suffered the injury on the final play of Saturday's loss to the Chicago White Sox when he made an unwise attempt to stretch a single and was thrown out at second.
"When I saw it, it looked like he got shot," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "It's what you see with guys with hamstrings and stuff like that _ they're running and all of a sudden you just see the leg just give out.
"Obviously, not a very good sign when you see that."
The Marlins also placed left-hander Adam Conley on the 15-day disabled list Sunday. Conley bruised his pitching hand when he jumped up and banged it in celebration of a home run by Jeff Mathis on the low dugout ceiling Aug. 3 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
He has made two starts since then, including Saturday when he gave up five runs in four innings. The left-hander said after the game that the injury was responsible for diminished velocity and lack of command of his pitches.
"I could have thrown the ball a lot harder, but I would have thrown it halfway up the backstop," he said. "There is some weakness and soreness in my hand. To get the ball into the zone and try to make effective pitches, I couldn't throw the ball as hard."
Conley has allowed 11 runs and 12 hits in nine innings since the incident.
The Marlins are already thin in their starting rotation with Wei-Yin Chen out indefinitely with an elbow sprain. They will use a spot starter Tuesday in Cincinnati.
To compensate for Conley's absence, Jose Fernandez's next turn will be moved up one day to Thursday. The ace right-hander was skipped this time through the order as part of a plan to limit his innings this season.
Mattingly said Conley will benefit from extra rest and should be ready to return after the required 15 days on the DL. In his first full season in the majors he has pitched 130 1/3 innings, approaching the most in his professional career.
"He probably would have needed to miss his (next) start, but we felt like it was a good time to go ahead and give him a few extra days," Mattingly said. "We've been trying to figure out ways to skip him to get him a breather. We felt like he's been dragging a little bit."
Stanton's injury came in a game in which he had three hits and drove in three runs, including his 25th home run.
Ichiro Suzuki took Stanton's place in right field Sunday.
"It means we've got to find another way to win. Simple as that. We did it earlier in the year," Mattingly said, referring to Stanton missing eight games with side soreness in late May as well as during a prolonged slump.
"Giancarlo earlier in the year was really not contributing. When he wasn't swinging well we were able to sustain. I think that's really what we have to do. ... It really puts (Ichiro) in the lineup more is what it does."
The Marlins also have closer A.J. Ramos (fractured finger) and power-hitting first baseman Justin Bour (sprained ankle) on the DL.
Veteran utility player Robert Andino and lefty reliever Hunter Cervenka were called up from Triple-A New Orleans. Andino, a Miami native who had a previous stint with the Marlins, last played in the major leagues in 2013 with Seattle.
