PHOENIX — Nolan Arenado is not sweating what could be one of the biggest moments of his big-league career.
The Rockies third baseman won’t be named a starter for the National League all-star team Sunday, but he almost certainly will be named to the team Monday when the pitchers and reserves are announced.
“I don’t think I’m ready to call myself an all-star, but I think I’ve been playing at an all-star level so far this season,” said Arenado, a two-time Gold Glove winner who had 24 home run and led the majors with 68 RBIs entering Saturday. “I’m not going to think about it; try not to focus on that. I don’t want the distraction, I’m just concentrating on hitting the ball hard.”
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The Rockies don’t play Monday; Arenado said he’s going to get away from baseball for a day.
“I’m going to get a massage and relax,” he said.
Axford returns. John Axford was reinstated from the family medical emergency list Saturday and resumed his ninth-inning duties for the Rockies. To make room for Axford, right-hander Justin Miller was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Miller, who turned 28 on June 13, is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in eight appearances over two stints with the Rockies. So why option him as opposed to lefty Yohan Flande, who gave up the winning run in a loss Friday night?
“We need a guy who can give us length in the bullpen with (Christian Bergman) down,” manager Walt Weiss said. “Flande fills that role for us. It’s a tough situation, because Justin has performed well for us up here.”
Dahl update. The Single-A, short-season Boise Hawks added outfielder David Dahl to their roster today Saturday. He’s beginning a rehab assignment.
The Rockies’ top pick in the 2012 draft had his spleen removed June 1, four days after suffering a severe laceration in a collision with Double-A New Britain teammate Juan Ciriaco.
Footnotes. Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, who will start Sunday’s game, is one strikeout shy of his 1,000th. … The Rockies agreed to give a $2 million signing bonus to Venezuelan outfielder Daniel Montano, who is ranked No. 12 on ‘s list of the top-30 international prospects. … Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt entered Saturday’s game having reached base in 27 consecutive games against the Rockies, while hitting at a .435 clip. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (5-3, 4.59 ERA) at Diamondbacks’ Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.60), 2:10 p.m. Sunday, ROOT; 850 AM
By almost any measure, Jorge De La Rosa is the most successful pitcher in Rockies history. Except at Chase Field, that is. The left-hander is winless in the D-backs’ ballpark, going 0-7 with a 4.36 ERA in nine starts. He picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, pitching seven shutout innings in a victory at Oakland. He allowed four hits, four walks and struck out four. Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa is in a good place. After allowing nine runs to the Dodgers on June 8, he has compiled a 1.30 ERA in his last four starts for Arizona.
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Angels’ Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.38 ERA) at Rockies’ Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Angels’ Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.91) at Rockies’ Chris Rusin (3-3, 4.27), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Braves’ Alex Wood (5-5, 3.17) at Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (3-10, 6.00), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
