MILWAUKEE -- Marlins reliever Odrisamer Despaigne, the club's most versatile pitcher, was lifted on Thursday night due to a right forearm strain. The injury occurred in a seven-run sixth inning during Miami's 12-3 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park.
With one out in the sixth inning, Despaigne was tended to by the Marlins' coaching and medical staffs after running the count to 2-2 on Lorenzo Cain. The club will further evaluate the right-hander to determine if a disabled list stint is needed.
"I'm not sure," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "He was feeling tightness. We'll let the trainers do their work and see what it's at."
Despaigne opened the season as the Marlins' No. 3 starter, but after one start, he was switched to the bullpen. He has a 6.14 ERA through eight appearances this season.
"I first felt it tight when I was warming up in the bullpen," Despaigne said. "I tried to keep going with it. When the game started, it's when I started to feel the pain."
Despaigne was replaced by Junichi Tazawa, and the Brewers responded with seven runs, six of which were charged to Tazawa, who Mattingly said postgame also might be injured.
"Taz was looking like he was shaking [his arm] too," Mattingly said. "I don't know if something is going on with him. He was wiggling his hand. We'll see where that's at."
If the Marlins have to make a roster move, one scenario is optioning right-hander Merandy Gonzalez back to Double-A Jacksonville to bring up a reliever. Gonzalez, Miami's No. 15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was called up on Thursday, and he threw two innings of scoreless relief. The fact he likely wouldn't be available for Friday makes him a candidate to be sent back down.
Pitching options at Triple-A New Orleans that are on the 40-man roster are Sandy Alcantara, Adam Conley, and Nick Wittgren. Alcantara started on Wednesday and wouldn't be available to pitch on Friday, and Conley is scheduled to start on Friday.
Reliever candidates who aren't on the 40-man roster who could be in consideration are right-hander Severino Gonzalez and lefty Sean Burnett.