Todd Helton’s sore back will keep him out of the starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Marlins and could mean more time on the bench in the coming days.
“This is something we need to calm down,” manager Clint Hurdle said this afternoon.
The Rockies’ gold glove first baseman left Wednesday’s game prior to the eighth inning when his problematic lower back problem flared up. Jeff Baker took his place and is back in the starting lineup at first for tonight’s game.
It’s not unusual for Colorado to lift the 34-year-old Helton in the late inning of a blowout, but the Rockies were ahead of the Padres just 7-1 when Helton came out. After the game, Helton admitted that his was bothering him.
“It’s just worse than usual,” he told The Denver Post Wednesday night.
Helton, who entered the season with a career .332 average, is hitting .266. He went 0-for-2 and walked twice Wednesday night.
Asked if Helton’s sore back has hampered his swing and prolonged his slump, Hurdle said, “There is no doubt.”
Also out of the starting lineup for tonight’s game is center fielder Willy Taveras. He’s nursing a strained left quadriceps muscle.
“It’s a little better,” he said today. “I’m going to get more treatment today and see how I feel.”
Taveras said he didn’t think his injury would require a stint on the DL.
“I don’t think so, but you never know,” Taveras said.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
