" Ricky Nolasco's ailing right knee improved enough over the weekend that Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez has not ruled him out of his next scheduled start, which would come Saturday in Atlanta.

Nolasco, who sustained a torn meniscus while bending over to tie his shoes last week, will play catch Monday and then throw a bullpen session Wednesday in New York.

If both workouts go well and team doctors give him clearance, Nolasco would make his next scheduled start -- a remarkable recovery just nine days after sustaining serious cartilage damage.

``He wants to pitch, and he says he's feeling much better the last two days,'' Rodriguez said. ``At this point of the season, pretty much everybody's hurt. Nobody's 100 percent. If he says he's 90, 95 percent, I think it's good enough.''

Whatever the prognosis, Rodriguez won't have to alter his rotation until the weekend. Andrew Miller took Nolasco's turn Sunday, but Rodriguez would not say Miller would automatically keep the spot if Nolasco (14-8, 4.22 ERA) can't return.

If Nolasco shares Rodriguez's optimism, it was hard to tell before Sunday's game.

``Obviously, it's the toughest thing I've ever dealt with on the baseball field,'' said Nolasco, who has won 13 or more games in each of the past three seasons. ``Nobody understands what it's like until they actually deal with it. There's not much I can do now.''

To make matters worse, Nolasco has been at his best over the past two months. He has gone 9-2 in his past 11 starts and is a big reason the Marlins have remained on the periphery of the playoff hunt."