PHILADELPHIA -- During Wednesday night's 8-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, Odrisamer Despaigne gave the Marlins a taste of what they can expect this weekend, as he's slated for his second start of the season against the Padres.
Despaigne entered in the third inning for a struggling Justin Nicolino, who allowed six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings, and quieted the Phillies' bats. He threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
"He's going to pitch one of those first couple games of that series [this weekend]," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. 
Despaigne will get a shot to start due to Tuesday's doubleheader in Philadelphia. The Marlins didn't call up another starter, so they had to look internally for a spot start. With at least two days off before his start, Wednesday's outing served as Despaigne's off-day bullpen session. As a bonus, he needed just 30 pitches to get through his 2 2/3 innings.
Despaigne started his big league career as a starter with the Padres, making 34 starts between 2014-15. He continued as a starter in Triple-A, making 17 for the Orioles' Triple-A Norfolk last season and 10 for Triple-A New Orleans this season. Twenty-seven of his last 28 appearances in the Majors over the past two seasons, though, have been out of the bullpen. His first appearance of 2017 was his last start, during which he allowed eight runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings. Despaigne allowed five hits and walked four in that May 6 outing.
Any manager would like to have his versatility at their disposal.
"He's a guy that can throw long. We've closed with him, he can bridge for us. He's got the kind of stuff that can help you in a lot of different ways," Mattingly said.
"This guy can go out and give us some innings."