MILWAUKEE -- For the second straight day, a Marlins reliever has been placed on the disabled list. On Friday, Odrisamer Despaigne was placed on the 10-day DL with a right forearm strain, and right-hander Nick Wittgren was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.
The transaction was expected after Despaigne was replaced in the sixth inning of Miami's 12-3 loss on Thursday to the Brewers at Miller Park. Miami currently has nine players on the disabled list.
On Thursday, reliever Chris O'Grady also went on the DL with a left shoulder strain.
"It's good to get Nick back," manager Don Mattingly said. "We felt like we'd get him back at some point. We were trying to get him built to multiple innings down there, and were taking that slow. But, obviously, with Odrisamer going down last night, he was really the guy."
Wittgren projects to help bridge innings from the starter to the Marlins' late relief and throw multiple innings.
Despaigne started the season as the Marlins' No. 3 starter, but he made just one start before going to the bullpen. The right-hander hadn't been sharp in his last three outings, giving up five runs over 3 2/3 innings. For the season, he has a 6.14 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.
Wittgren, 26, opened the season at New Orleans after he was building up in Spring Training from surgery to remove a bone chip from his throwing elbow last September.
"We brought him slowly, because we wanted to build him slowly, from the medical department," Mattingly said. "Obviously, with the surgery, and the rehab all winter, really there were no issues all the spring. It was a matter of building him up. There's no days in there you had to stop him or shut him down. We feel like he can compete here."
In seven appearances at New Orleans, Wittgren has had his struggles, posting a 10.13 ERA in 5 1/3 innings, including two home runs.
"I've been working on command and off-speed stuff," Wittgren said. "My Spring Training was a lot shorter than other guys. I'm getting back in the swing of things."
Wittgren last pitched in the big leagues on July 26 at Texas, working two-thirds of an inning, and he went on the disabled list the next day.
"I'm ready, and I'm ready to help out," Wittgren said. "I have almost 100 innings up here, I know what it takes. I know what I have to do up here to help out, and pitch for these guys. When I get out there, I just have to execute."