Marlins starter Scott Olsen knows he has one job to do -- and that job does not involve trying to bring fans to Dolphin Stadium.
But one thing that might help that cause is the reported signing of 24-year-old shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a six-year, $70 million deal -- to be announced Saturday.
"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see [if it affects attendance]," Olsen said. "Obviously,it's a sign of progress, and it's a sign that the organization is interested in keeping players.
"Obviously, it hasn't been the greatest year in attendance, but I'm not sure how it's going to play out."
The Marlins are currently last in the Major Leagues in attendance, averaging 14,980 fans per game going into Friday.
But for now, Olsen can only go out there and pitch -- which is what he'll do in the second of a three-game homestand against the Royals on Saturday.
"We can't control [the attendance]," Olsen said. "My job is to pitch, not bring in fans."
Olsen also refuses to give any excuses for why his fastball lacked the usual life in his last start against the Nationals on Sunday.
Olsen said it had nothing to do with the 62-degree temperature at Nationals Park, and he isn't nursing any injuries.
"I feel fine," Olsen said. "It was warm [on Sunday]. It was nice.
"I'm not sure why the velocity was low the last time out."
Part of the problem may have been Olsen throwing a career-high 121 pitches the start before, when he threw a shutout in 8 2/3 innings against the Brewers on May 6.
Whatever the reason might be, manager Fredi Gonzalez feels something like that won't happen again.
"It was a one-time situation," Gonzalez said. "The great thing is, you look at the box score, and he only threw like [59] pitches the time before. So he kept us in the ballgame."
Olsen will be making his second career start against the Royals as he tries to snap the Marlins' season-high four-game losing streak. The 6-foot-5 lefty's only start against Kansas City came on June 17, 2007, when he allowed five runs off 10 hits in six innings to register the loss.
<!--CHANGE c_id for team-specific probables page--> Pitching matchup
FLA: LHP Scott Olsen (4-1, 2.63 ERA)
Olsen struggled with velocity and effectiveness in his last outing, a six-inning no-decision against the Nationals. The lefty gave up four runs on six hits. He was particularly hurt by allowing two homers, the first time this season the southpaw has allowed more than one home run. On a chilly 62-degree day in Washington, his fastball rarely reached as high as 87 mph. Still, he battled through six innings, keeping his team within striking distance. At home, he is 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA.
KC: RHP Brian Bannister (4-4, 3.75 ERA)
Bannister, a self-proclaimed streaky pitcher, trusts that he's found himself another hot one with eight shutout innings against the Orioles on Sunday. He gave up just two hits and two walks and no one reached second base. The victory ended a four-loss skid after Bannister had opened the season 3-0. He made an unspecified adjustment that helped him keep his secondary pitches from getting too high and hittable. He'd have tried for a complete game except he admitted his legs were getting a bit shaky, so Joakim Soria finished up.
Tidbits
Ramirez's contract extension will be announced Saturday at 11 a.m. ET at the Orange Bowl site. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, resident David Samson, resident of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest, and general manager Michael Hill are expected to be in attendance...Gonzalez confirmed Friday that Mike Rabelo was ready to go the next day despite fouling a ball off his foot Monday against the Reds. Gonzalez has opted to go with Matt Treanor the last three games, however. Treanor is 3-for-6 with three RBIs in the three games. ... No makeup date has been announced for the Reds-Marlins rainout Thursday. The Reds and Marlins don't play each other in Cincinnati again this season. The Reds come to Miami for a four-game series on June 6. ... Luis Gonzalez, who's made 16 straight starts in left field, has gone 15-for-42 (a batting average of .357) over his last 11 games. In his career, he is hitting .340 in 94 at-bats against the Royals.
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• WAXY 790, WQBA 1140 (Español)
<!--CHANGE c_id for team-specific probables page; section now should include starters, with W/L and ERA like this:--> Up next
• Sunday: Marlins (Burke Badenhop, 1-2, 5.97) vs. Royals (Zack Greinke, 4-1, 1.93), 1:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Marlins (Mark Hendrickson, 5-2, 3.91) vs. Diamondbacks (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
