SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — A blazing fastball and the potential to dominate both left- and right-handed hitters have earned left-hander Jake McGee the closer’s job as the Rockies open the season.
The move was expected, especially after late-inning reliever Jason Motte came down with soreness in his right shoulder late in camp, but manager Walt Weiss made it official Saturday after the club’s final Cactus League game.
“(McGee) attacks with his fastball, and he goes after both lefties and righties, so matchups aren’t a problem for him,” Weiss said. “If you have some extreme splits with your closer, you are going to lose the (pinch-hitting) matchup battle in the ninth inning. But it’s tough for teams to match up against McGee. I like that.”
McGee, acquired in the offseason trade that shipped outfielder Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay, had six saves and posted a 2.41 ERA last season. Left-handers hit .200 against him, right-handers just .196. His fastballs (two-seamer and four-seamer) average 95 mph, and he threw fastballs about 94 percent of the time.
Jordan Lyles starts at home
Right-hander Jordan Lyles will start the home opener Friday against San Diego. Lyles had a tough spring, posting a 7.11 ERA over 19 innings and giving up a team-high four home runs.
“It’s going to be an exciting day,” Lyles said Saturday after giving up one run on three hits and walking three over three innings against the Mariners. “It’s fun when you can’t see any empty seats. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m honored and blessed. It will be a fun day next Friday.”
Colorado’s rotation set
With right-hander Jon Gray sidelined with an abdominal strain, right-hander Christian Bergman will be Colorado’s fifth starter, at least for the time being.
Because the Rockies have two off days in the first eight days of the season, they will open with a four-man rotation, meaning Bergman won’t be called on to start until April 14, at the earliest. Until then, he will be used out of the bullpen.
The Rockies’ rotation lines up this way to begin the season:
• Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa will start Monday night’s season opener against Arizona at Chase Field. He’ll oppose Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke.
• Right-hander Chad Bettis will start the second game of the series.
• Tyler Chatwood, who has not pitched in a major-league game since April 2014 and is returning from his second Tommy John surgery, will take the mound for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Thursday is an off day, before Friday’s home opener at Coors Field.
Footnotes
When the club set its 25-man roster Saturday, lefty Jason Gurka found himself as a member of the bullpen, jumping ahead of right-hander Scott Oberg, who was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Veteran lefty Chris Rusin also made the 25-man roster, while right-hander Gonzalez Germen and lefty Yohan Flande were reassigned to the minors.
Infielder Daniel Descalso (broken hand), left-hander starter Tyler Matzek (anxiety issues) and Motte are all expected to go on the disabled list Sunday.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
