Brewers' Eric Gagne sits with rotator cuff tendinitis

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Gagne was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendonitis on Thursday and has been pulled from the team's lineup indefinitely.

The native of Mascouche, Que., was examined by team physician William Raasch in Milwaukee, received a cortisone injection and was told not to throw again for three days.

Gagne, 32, will rejoin the team in Washington on Friday and will be re-examined when his shoulder feels better.

The former closer first complained of shoulder stiffness in the Brewers' 7-2 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The right-hander allowed a two-run home run to Jason Bay and walked two other batters before he was taken out of the game in the ninth inning.

Gagne said that he thought the problem wasn't a result of structural damage, but rather the result of constantly throwing between games to work out problems with his delivery during the previous week.

The Brewers haven't put Gagne on the disabled list and probably won't unless the injury worsens or if they're forced to use most of their bullpen in their weekend series against the Washington Nationals.

Reliever Salomon Torres is expected to take on the closer's role for the Brewers with Gagne out.

"Our bullpen is what is it right now," manager Ned Yost said. "I'm happy with where it is."

Gagne, the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner, has struggled after signing a one-year, $10 million US deal with the Brewers this past off-season. He has gone 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA and 10 saves in 15 opportunities for Milwaukee this season, with Yost briefly pulling him from closer's role earlier in May due to ineffectiveness.