CINCINNATI — The Rockies’ roster shakeup continued Wednesday with third baseman Ian Stewart the latest casualty.
The Rockies optioned Stewart to the minor leagues to clear a roster spot for Wednesday night’s starting pitcher, Kevin Millwood.
The team also placed reliever Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list because of soreness in his right arm and called up right-handed reliever Edgar Gonzalez.
Stewart’s demotion leaves his big-league future with the Rockies in doubt. He struggled early in the season and was demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Once he was brought back up at mid-season, the plan was to have him get the bulk of playing time to see if he could snap out of a season-long slump.
But Stewart’s offensive struggles continued to relegate him to bench duty.
Stewart hit 18 home runs a season ago, but he is homerless in 122 at-bats this season and has just six RBIs, while hitting .156.
The Rockies chose to continue carrying eight relievers because of closer Huston Street’s lingering triceps soreness in his right arm, and the bullpen’s heavy workload of late.
In less than a week, the bullpen absorbed eight innings the night Ubaldo Jimenez was traded and another eight innings last Friday when Juan Nicasio was injured.
Street is unavailable again tonight. He played catch today and will attempt to throw off the mound Thursday to get a better read on his injury.
Matt Reynolds and Josh Roenicke will be used tonight only in an emergency situation.
