LOS ANGELES — The four-man rotation might not need an elastic waistband. Not yet, anyway.
Rather than expand, it could feature a new member if Jhoulys Chacin’s 85-pitch rehab start goes well Saturday for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was pushed back for this start, leaving him aligned to replace Tyler Chatwood.
Chacin has only one outing mapped out for the Sky Sox. If he repeats the success of his last Double-A game, when he topped out at 94 mph with good command, he could join the Rockies’ rotation. It’s unlikely he will return in a piggyback role, given his long road back from an odd right pectoral injury.
There’s a possibility that the rotation could grow in September as the team auditions more arms. That would also create extra rest for young starters Drew Pomeranz and Alex White. Pomeranz and White are approaching innings limits as well.
Pitcher warned. Mike Eckstrom received a delay-of-game letter from Major League Baseball, instructing him that he took too long warming up July 16 and 18. His friends got a good laugh when the letter appeared on Twitter. Rafael Betancourt has been fined by the league and warned twice for working slowly.
“It’s a hard game. I am just trying to do my job out there,” Betancourt said after offering Eckstrom advice.
Footnotes. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was given a planned day off. … Josh Rutledge said playing at Dodger Stadium was a a highlight. “I couldn’t believe how loud it was,” he said. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies’ Tyler Chatwood (1-2, 6.61 ERA) at Giants’ Tim Lincecum (6-11, 5.43), 8:35 p.m., ROOT
Saturday: Rockies’ Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 4.76) at Giants’ Matt Cain (10-5, 3.01), 2:05 p.m., ROOT
Sunday: Rockies’ Alex White (2-6, 5.75) at Giants’ Barry Zito (9-8, 4.19), 2:05 p.m., ROOT
