Injuries galore threaten to derail season
August 1st, 2017
W - 59 / L - 45 / 8 Game Lead
The Rockies were able to finish the month with a 19-10 record thanks to to young pitchers stepping up as a number of injuries struck the Rockies. None are expected to be too lengthy but they are still going to show soon. The Rockies lost 3 of their starting pitchers to injury as Kevin Gausman sprained his ankle putting him out for 2 weeks. Jose Fernandez strained his oblique in a win and is out for 3 more weeks and rookie Bryant Reed got an inflamed shoulder after throwing just 1 pitch in his last game and will be out for 2 weeks, he was filling in for Gausman when he was hurt. On top of the injuries to their pitchers they also lost RF Jorge Soler for 5 weeks to a quadriceps strain as well as new acquisition LF Glenn Mackie for 3 months with a partially torn labrum, his season is likely over.
The Rockies promoted 2 pitchers to cover the absences in the rotation, they promoted Daniel Corcino and Bill Moore to the rotation. Corcino has not had his start come yet but Moore lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up 3 runs. The good news though has been SP Wilmer Font who was promoted when Ryan Verdugo was traded to Miami. Font has been absolutely phenomenal going 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA, never giving up more than 1 run in his starts, not bad for a pitcher claimed off waivers and went 1-5 last season with a 5.68 ERA for Texas. Also stepping up in the field for the Rockies since being promoted when Mackie went down with this injury has been another recent acquisition LF Yasukazu Tsuchiya, after Soler was hurt Carlos Gonzalez was moved to RF and Tsuchiya has been starting in left. In 67 plate appearances he has hit .343/.397/.672 with 6 HR and 17 RBI.
As we head into the month of August the Rockies will need at least manageable performances from their replacements but the good news is they have an 8 game cushion so it is not dire circumstances quite yet.
Top Team Performances
MLB Hitter - SS Troy Tulowitzki - .394/.464/.743 10 HR 31 RBI
MLB Pitcher - SP Wilmer Font - 4-0 0.69 ERA 0.81 WHIP
AAA Hitter - CF Brian Humphries - .333/.421/.559 4 HR 18 RBI
AAA Pitcher - SP Jim Collins - 1-1 4.19 ERA 1.42 WHIP
AA Hitter - 3B Michael Benjamin - .262/.342/.383 2 HR 16 RBI
AA Pitcher - RP Rafael Aviles - 12.1 IP 2.19 ERA 1.14 WHIP