PITTSBURGH — Scott Oberg is a walking contradiction.
The Rockies have loads of faith in the 25-year-old, right-handed reliever, but he needs to eliminate walks.
Case in point: his eighth inning Friday night against the Pirates. He gave up back-to-back walks, to Francisco Cervelli and Pedro Alvarez, leading to two runs and a 5-3 victory for Pittsburgh.
Oberg, who took the loss, saw his ERA climb to 5.67. He had 21 walks and 31 strikeouts in 46 innings entering Saturday.
“I have to be able to throw more quality strikes and with more consistency,” Oberg said before Saturday’s game. “I think that’s one of the main things that’s hurt me throughout the season.”
Oberg throws his fastball at about 95 mph, mixing in a hard slider and a good curveball, but when gets behind he issues free passes or serves up home runs. He had allowed 10 homers this season entering Saturday, the most among Colorado’s full-time relievers.
Oberg, who only a year ago was pitching in Double-A, is going through often necessary growing pains.
“I have to go out there and continue to learn,” he said. “I can’t fall behind hitters like I did last night.”
Rockies manager Walt Weiss has been Oberg’s most ardent supporter all season.
“I think his pitch command has to get better, and I think he knows that,” Weiss said. “But I like his work ethic and his makeup. His stuff is all in place. I think he’s going to be a good one for us.”
Just what is Oberg’s makeup?
“He’s a tough competitor, very coachable and he’s confident,” Weiss said. “All of those things are in place.”
Kendrick set to return against the Diamondbacks
Right-hander Kyle Kendrick, who has not pitched since July 31 because of right-shoulder inflammation, will start one of the games against Arizona in Tuesday’s doubleheader at Coors Field.
Kendrick threw a 30-pitch side session Saturday at PNC Park and pronounced himself fit.
“I felt really good, threw all of my pitches,” he said.
Kendrick is 4-12 with a 6.43 ERA. Opponents are hitting .307 against him and he’s served up 26 home runs, which rank third among National League starters.
Rockies look at using six-man rotation
Weiss said the Rockies are considering using a six-man starting rotation in September. … Veteran first baseman Justin Morneau went 1-for-2, including a strikeout, in his first rehab start for Double-A New Britain on Friday.
Looking ahead
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (7-6, 4.61 ERA) at Pirates’ Charlie Morton (8-5, 4.20), 11:35 a.m. Sunday, ROOT; 850 AM
Morton has not been a dominant pitcher this season. But he has been excellent at home, where the Pirates are 7-1 in his eight starts at PNC Park. The 31-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.62 ERA in six career starts against Colorado. He has been charged with two or fewer runs in four of those six starts. De La Rosa is riding a roller coaster this season. He has given up five or more earned runs six times, and the Rockies have lost six of his last eight starts. As a member of the Rockies, the left-hander is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in five starts at PNC Park.
Monday: Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin (3-3, 3.78 ERA) at Rockies’ Chad Bettis (6-4, 4.69), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday’s Game 1: Diamondbacks’ Rubby De La Rosa (11-6, 4.46) at Rockies’ Yohan Flande (3-1, 4.09), 1:10 p.m., no TV
Tuesday’s Game 2: Diamondbacks’ Randall Delgado (5-3, 3.09) at Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (4-12, 6.43), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Diamondbacks’ Chase Anderson (6-5, 4.22) at Rockies’ Jon Gray (0-0, 6.00), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
