PITTSBURGH —Walt Weiss knows every baseball season is a merry-go-round. Starting pitchers and relievers come, go and return. In the past, that merry-go-round often tilted and crashed.
But the Rockies’ manager thinks the 2016 season will be a different ride.
“One of the differences between this year and previous years is that when I have to go to that second layer, or even the third layer, on our roster, we are in a much better position,” Weiss said Friday before the Rockies took on the Pirates. “I just feel like our depth is more talented.”
Case in point: the moves that Colorado made Friday. The club placed right-handed long reliever Christian Bergman on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique and optioned struggling right-hander Scott Oberg to Triple-A Albuquerque after he threw 49 pitches in two innings in a 13-7 loss at St. Louis on Thursday. He also got hammered, giving up three runs on two hits, with a walk.
In need of instant relief, the Rockies recalled right-hander Jordan Lyles from Triple-A to fill the long-relief role and called up hard-throwing right-hander Miguel Castro to add bullpen depth. Also, lefty starter Jorge De La Rosa, who pitched seven innings in Triple-A on Thursday, is close to returning to the big-league rotation.
“I think we’ll see some more changes, but as of now, I’m the long reliever,” said Lyles, who began the season in the starting rotation before being optioned to Albuquerque on April 25.
Lyles pitched poorly for Colorado, going 1-1 with a 7.64 ERA in four starts. His numbers with Albuquerque weren’t great — 1-1, 5.40 ERA, nine walks and 15 strikeouts — but he said he’s working his way back.
“It was tough to get sent down, but I wasn’t getting the job done to start the season, so the only one to blame is myself,” Lyles said. “It’s an ongoing progress, but my main focus has been working on my thought process between pitches. I’ve been working on my changeup, and worked on getting in better counts.”
Castro’s role. After being placed on the 15-day disabled list April 22 with right-shoulder inflammation, the 21-year-old is back. But don’t expect him to be rushed into a late-game role anytime soon.
“We’ll ease him back a little bit,” Weiss said. “Part of the process for him being on the DL was building up his strength. He’s in play, but he probably won’t be used like he was before he got hurt. At least not right away. There will be a bit of an easing-in period.”
In six appearances before being placed on the disabled list, Castro allowed one run in six innings pitched (1.50 ERA) with two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.
“I was a little worried when I went on the DL because I didn’t know how long I would be out or how many games I would miss,” said Castro, who posted a 13.50 ERA in two rehab appearances with Albuquerque. “But my arm feels good and strong. There is no pain.”
