For good or bad, left-hander remains a part of the Rockies’ playoff-chase equation.
Manager Bud Black reiterated Monday that he believes Anderson can rebound from a very rough stretch. Anderson lines up to start Friday night at San Francisco.
“It’s a matter of location for Tyler, because the velocity is there,” Black said before the Rockies hosted Arizona in a key National League West showdown. “It’s a matter of arm slot, and I’ve talked to Tyler about that. For me, that’s a little bit inconsistent. He needs a consistent release point.”
Anderson lasted only 2⅔ innings Sunday in the Rockies’ 9-6 loss to the Dodgers at . Anderson needed 35 pitches to get through the Dodgers’ two-run first inning and ended up throwing 72 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) in his short stint.
Over his last 11 starts, Anderson is 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA and Colorado is 2-9 in those 11 games. Over his last five starts, he’s 0-4 with an 11.64 ERA.
Still, Anderson insisted he has not lost his confidence.
“I think if I was to pitch to (the Dodgers) tomorrow, I could get them out,” he said Sunday.
Black backed up Anderson.
“Tyler is one of the most confident, convicted players we have,” Black said. “I feel the same. I know that, being in those shoes, there is a belief that you can really throw a good game every time you take the mound. I think that’s part of what makes a player successful, is their confidence in their ability.
“With Tyler, he’s healthy, his stuff is fine. He’s just not locating the ball. I think probably most of it is mechanics.”
Black believes a few good innings could help Anderson rebound.
“When you get on a roll — one-two-three (inning) — or you give up a hit and then get a double play, and you have another good inning …. that sort of builds (momentum),” Black said. “Tyler hasn’t been able to quite do that through August. There were a couple of good starts.
“But is he capable in his next start to do that? Absolutely. I think the talent’s there, the stuff is there, the self-confidence is there. Now he just has to be right physically.”
At this point in the season, the Rockies don’t have any real alternatives. Former starter , now working out of the bullpen, would only be able to provide a maximum of three innings. The Rockies chose not make right-hander , who had a roller-coaster season at Triple-A, a September call-up.
Another option would be to use a “piggyback” system in which two or three pitchers are lined up to pitch the first five or six innings. It is doubtful the Rockies would employ that tactic.
Looking ahead
Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (13-9, 3.08) at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-5, 4.92), 6:40 p.m. Tuesday; ATTRM, 850 AM
Senzatela did not get a decision last Wednesday in Colorado’s 5-3 victory over San Francisco, but he did provide the Rockies with five workmanlike innings, allowing three runs over five innings while striking out six. In two games (one start) vs. Arizona this season, he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. He pitched 5 ⅓ innings in his lone start against the D-backs on July 22 at Chase Field, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Greinke has had a mostly solid season, but he’s coming off a rough outing against Atlanta in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits. He walked two and struck out four over 5 ⅓ innings. and did not factor into the D-backs’ 7-6, 10-inning loss. Greinke threw wild pitches in the first inning, and then served up a two-run homer in the fourth, followed by a solo shot in the sixth. Two Rockies, in particular, have had success against Greinke. Trevor Story is batting 10-for-32 (.313) with five home runs and 11 RBIs, while Carlos Gonzalez is 16-for-51 (.314) with five home runs and seven RBIs. — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Wednesday: Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (11-5, 3.01) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (11-7, 4.69), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Diamondbacks RHP Clay Buchholz (7-2, 2.01) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (14-7, 2.91), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (6-8, 4.89) at Giants RHP Chris Stratton (9-9, 4.99), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM
