Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood has run into problems with his back once again and is facing another extended absence.
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Chatwood Headed for the Disabled List Again
Tuesday, Aug. 16
According to Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post, Chatwood has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mid-back strain.
He initially felt the injury during the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, per Kosmider, but he stayed on the mound until being pulled in the fourth inning after he was tagged for six runs.
Chatwood originally hit the DL on June 19 with the same kind of injury and was out until July 5. It could provide an explanation as to why he’s suffered such a drastic drop in performance despite his 10-8 record and 3.75 ERA this season.
Before his first stint on the DL, he began the year at 8-4 with a 2.89 ERA as Colorado’s most reliable starter.
In the eight starts since his return, the 26-year-old went 2-4 while allowing four or more earned runs in four of them.
“We figured he was going to need some time, so you do the math, and it’s worth putting him on the disabled list,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss told Kosmider.
Entering Tuesday night at 56-63, 10.5 games out of the National League West division lead, there’s no reason why the Rockies should keep Chatwood in the rotation.
For a team well outside the postseason picture, it’s better to keep a potential ace healthy while looking forward to next season.
In the meantime, the Rockies recalled right-handed pitcher Christian Bergman from Triple-A Albuquerque, per Kosmider.
Bergman has appeared in nine games with Colorado this season, starting one. He’s compiled a 1-3 record with a 5.89 ERA.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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