Between DJ LeMahieu and Trevor Story, the Rockies nearly lost both sides of their middle infield Sunday. But on Monday, they both dodged the disabled list.
Further tests on LeMahieu’s left knee and Story’s right middle finger showed no breaks or tears. Colorado manager Walt Weiss, though, held them out of his lineup to start a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field.
“Better than expected, really,” Weiss said. “I was thinking the worst yesterday when both of them went down.”
LeMahieu landed awkwardly on his knee in the sixth inning Sunday after diving for a Paul Goldschmidt RBI single and he was removed from the game. He skipped batting and fielding practice Monday. He’s sore, he said, but LeMahieu hopes to resume activity Tuesday, if not return to the lineup.
“It feels a lot better today,” said LeMahieu, who’s hitting a team-high .327 this season.
LeMahieu started for the National League in last season’s All-Star Game, but he has improved across the board this year at the plate. His .893 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) is nearly 150 points higher and his five home runs are one off his total all of last season.
Story, the Rockies’ rookie shortstop, hit his 19th home run Sunday against Arizona, but he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning and bruised his finger.
“Nothing’s broken. Just a lot of swelling,” Story said. “It’s a little tricky because it’s right where I grip a ball and a bat.”
Story trails only Nolan Arenado (21) for the team lead in home runs. He leads all rookies with 50 RBIs, and he’s second to only Cleveland outfielder Tyler Naquin (.591 and .967) for the rookie lead in slugging percentage and OPS (.559 and .898).
All-Star updates. Arenado and Story continue to trail Chicago Cubs in NL all-star voting, with Arenado about 350,000 votes short of Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Story about 250,000 votes shy of Addison Russell. Carlos Gonzalez surpassed one million votes this week and is now sixth among NL outfielders. The NL and AL all-star rosters will be announced next Tuesday, July 5.
Looking ahead …
Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ (9-3, 3.42 ERA) at Rockies RHP Eddie Butler (2-4, 6.71), 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, ROOT; 850 AM
Every time Butler takes the mound, he’s trying to prove he should remain in the starting rotation. Manager Walt Weiss has repeatedly said that Butler has the tools to be an effective starter, but Butler’s inability to consistently command his two-seam fastball has hurt him. In his last start, Butler got a no decision, allowing six runs and 11 hits over five innings. Happ won his last start against the Diamondbacks, pitching six innings, allowing two runs, six hits and four walks while striking out a season-high eight. It was Happ’s third victory in his last three starts, and he needs just two more victories to tie last year’s total of 11.
Wednesday: Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez (7-1, 3.33 ERA) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (0-1, 2.55), 1:10 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-4, 6.47) at Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 1.79), 8:10 p.m., ROOT
— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
