SAN DIEGO — Corey Dickerson, hitting at an all-star pace until his left foot flared up with muscle inflammation, will likely return to the Rockies lineup soon, his manager, Walt Weiss, said Friday.
“We’re going to put him through the ringer in the next couple days and see how he responds,” Weiss said of Dickerson. “And if everything turns out OK, we’re looking at going out real soon.”
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Dickerson, a left fielder, was hitting .299 with 16 RBIs and five home runs in 38 games before a second trip to the disabled list on June 17 with plantar fasciitis.
The 26-year-old hit in the cage during batting practice Thursday at Petco Park with the team. Dickerson’s next hurdle is proving he can handle movements outside the batters box.
“Running bases, shagging in the outfield,” Weiss said. “He can take an at-bat tonight and be just fine. But it’s the defensive part of the game more than anything else, covering ground in the outfield.”
The Rockies will likely send Dickerson on an abbreviated rehab assignment after the team returns to Colorado on Monday.
Dickerson’s rehab will be capped at about 25 at-bats, Weiss said.
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“I don’t think it’ll be lengthy,” Weiss said. “With that injury, I don’t want to waste bullets down there. I just want to make sure he’s functional defensively.”
All-Star Game recap.
The Rockies returned to the second half of their season after sending three infielders to the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Two of them, third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman DJ LeMahieu, played in their first midsummer classic. The third, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, was in his fifth game.
“It was a whirlwind like everybody told me it would be,” LeMahieu said. “Having Nolan and Tulo there — I don’t know what I would have done without them there.”
LeMahieu went 0-for-2 at the plate, Arenado and Tulowitzki each went 0-for-1.
“The first inning, I felt really out of place,” LeMahieu said. “But after that, I had a lot of fun.”
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Looking ahead
Rockies’ Chad Bettis (5-4, 4.91 ERA) at Padres’ Tyson Ross (6-7, 3.34), 6:40 p.m. Saturday, ROOT, 850 AM
The Rockies have won eight of the 12 games started this season by Bettis. But two starts ago, he derailed, pitching just 2 innings, with 10 runs against him. He hit the delete button, though, on Sunday, allowing just three runs in six innings against Atlanta. He also struck out a season-high eight batters — and walked a career high-tying five. In five road starts, Bettis is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA — and 22 Ks against 12 walks.
Sunday: Rockies’ Eddie Butler (3-6, 4.80) at Padres’ Andrew Cashner (3-10, 4.10), 2:10 p.m., ROOT
Monday: Rangers’ TBA at Rockies’ Chris Rusin (3-3, 3.98), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Rangers’ Matt Harrison (0-1, 13.50) at Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (3-10, 5.94), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
