Good thing the All-Star Game is Tuesday, because the Rockies’ nicked-up starting rotation could use the break.
The club called up right- hander Gonzalez Germen (pronounced Hermen) from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. It was the first major-league start for Germen, who was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Iowa, going 5-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 24 games.
Hochman:
The roster move was necessitated by events in Thursday’s rain-delayed game at Coors Field. The rain cut short starter Kyle Kendrick’s outing; he pitched only one inning. When the game resumed, right-hander David Hale was called into long-relief duty. Hale originally was scheduled to start Friday’s game.
The pitching situation became more complicated when Hale suffered a mild left groin strain running the bases during the second inning. He came out to pitch the third inning but left after facing three batters.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss said he didn’t think Hale’s injury was “anything major,” but the club did put Hale on the 15-day disabled list.
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More pitching moves for the Rockies.
Colorado, also in need of fresh bullpen arms, made other roster moves Friday.
Right-handed reliever Scott Oberg was optioned to Albuquerque, and the Rockies called up left-hander Aaron Laffey from Triple-A. Left-hander Tyler Anderson, their first-round draft pick in 2011 who is dealing with a stress fracture near his left elbow, was moved to the 60-day disabled list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Laffey.
Germen pitched three scoreless innings Friday before giving way to Laffey. In effect, they were almost co-starters.
Weiss said he considered opening the game with Laffey — he has made 68 big-league starts since 2007 — but that Germen was ultimately chosen.
“We flipped a coin, basically,” Weiss joked. “It came up tails for Germen.”
Though Oberg has struggled at times this season — 5.97 ERA, eight home runs given up in 31 innings, Weiss made it clear that Oberg was not being demoted for the long term.
“In Scotty’s case, it’s just where we’re at today,” Weiss said. “Unfortunately, he’s a guy that can move up and down. We just need to protect ourselves with some length.”
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Looking ahead
Braves’ Matt Wisler (3-1, 3.13 ERA) at Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (6-3, 4.46), 2:10 p.m. Saturday, ROOT; 850 AM
Wisler, a 22-year-old rookie right-hander, won for the third time in four starts when he beat the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing. He allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 innings. He has been excellent in two starts but only so-so in his other two. He brings a mid-90s fastball and an excellent slider to Coors Field. De La Rosa, 34, is 5-1 with a 3.14 ERA in his last seven starts, limiting opponents to a .229 batting average. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in five games (three starts) in his career against Atlanta.
Sunday: Braves’ Alex Wood (6-5, 3.34 ERA) at Rockies’ Chad Bettis (4-4, 4.95), 2:10 p.m., ROOT
Monday through Thursday: All-star break, with the All-Star Game in Cincinnati on Tuesday
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
