"Javier Vazquez's downtrodden demeanor following Monday's rough outing against the Phillies wasn't solely a product of his pitching.

Tuesday, the Marlins placed Vazquez on the bereavement list. Manager Edwin Rodriguez said a relative on Vazquez's wife side passed away unexpectedly in Puerto Rico. Vazquez departed Tuesday and will rejoin the team Friday in Washington. He will not miss his next scheduled start Sunday at Nationals Park.

"I don't know if it's his wife's brother or his wife's cousin, but I know it was a close family member," Rodriguez said. "He felt sick [Monday]. The doctor sent him to the hospital and he died."

Rodriguez was unsure as whether Vazquez pitched with his head and heart elsewhere Monday. Vazquez knew something was wrong back home, but he didn't find out the particulars until after the game.

"On the mound, I don't think [he was distracted]," Rodriguez said. "Maybe. Only he knows that, but in the other part of the game I think so."

Rodriguez referred to the third-inning play when Vazquez did not back up home plate. Emilio Bonifacio airmailed a throw from left. Though the ball caromed back to John Buck and he flipped to Vazquez in time to get Placido Polanco at home, Vazquez dropped the ball and a third run scored that inning.

After the game, Vazquez did not offer much in the way of explanations for his latest poor outing. One scout said his biggest issue is location. He no longer has the velocity to get away with mistakes in the zone."