PHOENIX — A 42-year-old debate that never dies got even more heated this week when St. Louis Cardinals ace pitcher Adam Wainwright tore his left Achilles tendon Saturday in an at-bat at Milwaukee.
It led Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer to say he “wasn’t opposed” to adopting the designated hitter rule in the National League.
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But Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles on Monday said he’s adamantly against that idea.
“I’d much prefer pitchers hitting for themselves,” Lyles said. “Any chance you get to help your guys out, whether getting a guy over bunting, or swinging with two outs, any way to help your team, that’s our job.”
Lyles, who has a career .142 batting average, managed to hit two home runs in his five years in the majors. His second homer came last season, at Arizona against Josh Collmenter on April 30.
Nearly one year later, those two will match up again. Lyles and Collmenter start Wednesday at Chase Field.
“I like being more a part of the game,” Lyles said. “I’m more into it rather than going to the mound, then sitting down until my teammates are done hitting. I want to be in there. I want to be part of it. I’m fortunate to be in the NL.
“I like facing other pitchers.”
Rockies pitchers take their own batting practice every day, including bunting and full swings. In spring training, they made a specific effort trying to separate themselves from other teams at the plate.
“Stats have shown that when pitchers have more productive at-bats, the higher-quality of wins they have. That’s a big thing for us,” Lyles said.
The Rockies’ best-hitting pitcher is lefty Tyler Matzek. He had a .214 career average coming into Monday’s start. He singled in his first at-bat to go 3-for-5 this season.
But Lyles admits that pitchers are at a disadvantage — but he still wants the responsibility.
“Coming out of high school, you take three or four years off facing good pitching. So there’s a big gap,” he said. “I’m not a major-league hitter — but I have to do my job.”
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Dickerson back in. Corey Dickerson, who was not in the lineup Sunday before a game against the Giants was rained out, was back to starting in left field.
A bruise he suffered on his left quadriceps muscle Saturday on a foul ball had subsided some.
“That day off really helped,” he said. “I think it helped a lot of people.”
Looking ahead
Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 6.85 ERA) at Diamondbacks’ Archie Bradley (2-0, 1.45), 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, ROOT; 850 AM
Now that Kendrick is four games into his life in the National League West, he can begin to address his Arizona issue. The 30-year-old veteran and former Phillies starter has a career 5.36 ERA in nine games against the Diamondbacks. He hasn’t pitched in Phoenix since 2013, when he was pegged with a no-decision. Arizona’s Aaron Hill has been especially bothersome for Kendrick, going 8-for-12 against him with four doubles. Kendrick in his last outing allowed four runs over seven innings in a win against the Padres.
Wednesday: Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.92 ERA) at Diamondbacks’ Josh Collmenter (1-3, 3.65), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies’ Eddie Butler (2-1, 3.27) at Padres’ Ian Kennedy (0-1, 10.80), 8:10 p.m., ROOT
Saturday: Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 11.57) at Padres’ Brandon Morrow (1-0, 2.67), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
