Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood has landed on the disabled list with a back injury, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reported Sunday. Colorado has recalled Scott Oberg from the minor leagues to take his spot on the roster. It is uncertain when Chatwood will return to action.
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Weiss Comments on Chatwood’s Timeline for Return
Sunday, June 19
“It probably won’t be longer than (15 days),” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, via Groke. “It’s tough to tell. But we’re thinking that will be sufficient. With a pitcher, you’re always nervous.”
Back Strain Delays Chatwood’s Solid Season
Chatwood suffered the injury during Saturday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins. After an erratic start that saw him throw 20 of 48 pitches out of the strike zone, he was removed from the game in the second inning.
Chatwood has been Colorado’s ace this season with an 8-4 record and 3.15 ERA. He’s normally been solid for the Rockies, a team that hasn’t received much from its starting pitching, going six or more innings in 12 of his first 13 starts this season.
Chatwood is the only starting arm in Colorado’s staff who’s gone over 80 innings in 2016 and has an ERA under 4.12.
On four different occasions this season, he hasn’t allowed an earned run. On June 6, he yielded only one hit to the Los Angeles Dodgers over eight innings.
But the injury bug has bitten him again, though a mid-back strain isn’t nearly as serious as the Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2015 season. Still, this has to be a frustrating delay in the 26-year-old’s development toward becoming a legitimate ace in Colorado.
This Rockies pitching staff is already without Chris Rusin, who is second on the team with a 4.12 ERA, as he is dealing with a strained shoulder.
Now, the Rockies will have to rely on the likes of Chad Bettis and Jon Gray to assume No. 1 responsibilities. But they haven’t helped Colorado keep its opponents off the scoreboard. Rockies starters have allowed 5.21 runs per game this season, which is the third-worst average in the entire league.
For a team that’s already 10 games behind the division-leading San Francisco Giants, the Rockies can’t afford to lose opportunities to get Chatwood on the mound, as he’s been their best chance at winning this season.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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