Bud Black hints at which rookie may join the Rockies pitching staff next week

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies have yet to replace Jon Gray‘s vacated spot in the rotation. The way the schedule lined up for the Rockies they were able to get through a stretch with just four starters. On Tuesday, the Rockies currently have To Be Announced listed as the starter.

Rockies manager Bud Black hinted that the team would move away from their four-man rotation next week.

“I like our young guys (on our pitching staff) and we have a chance to get younger next week,” Black said during batting practice on Friday.

The options to replace Gray’s spot are RHP Jeff Hoffman, RHP German Marquez and LHP Harrison Musgrave. The clearest option is Marquez, who was already on the team, though he didn’t pitch to start the season. He would be on normal rest for Tuesday as he pitched for the Isotopes on Thursday. Musgrave last threw Wednesday and could also be an option but he is not on the 40-man roster. Hoffman is scheduled to pitch Friday night and would be on short rest Tuesday, plus it doesn’t seem as though the Rockies feel he is ready to rejoin the big club.

Aside from losing their ace for an extended period, the Rockies are still without their starting first baseman Ian Desmond, left fielder David Dahl and others.

“There’s never a good time (for all the injuries,)” Black said. “This time of year if you have the guys that are able to step in and perform like we have you can absorb it like we have, but there’s never a good time.”

Desmond hit today off the tee, and he will progress to soft toss then batting practice over the next few days.

Meanwhile Dahl, who joined the club for the road trip this past week went back to Arizona to continue his rehab.

The other injury news out of Coors Field on Friday was that Giants star starter Madison Bumgarner injured himself in a dirt bike accident during the San Francisco off day which they spent in Denver. The lefty will miss around two months, he was not pegged to go in this weekend set against the Rockies.

“When I talk to our guys and our coaches talk to our guys we worry about ourselves and the Rockies and what we have to do,” Black said. “Other teams have their things going on and every team has something going at every point. We’ve been hit hard, the talent that we have the disabled list, that’s real talent… I like watching him (Bumgarner) pitch, he’s a good pitcher, hate to see those things happen. He’s good for our game, he’s good for baseball.”

Chad Qualls was also spotted back in the clubhouse today. He was out on rehab in Albuquerque and will go back out on rehab soon. They are working his stamina and getting comfortable with all of his pitches.

Jairo Diaz was moved from High-A to Triple-A and threw one inning for the ‘Topes on Apr., 15.

The best news for Colorado is that Carlos Gonzalez is starting tonight after a very scary moment saw him got hit by a pitch in LA.

The injury to Carlos Gonzalez. He "fouled a pitch off" (got hit by a pitch on the pinky of his right hand). pic.twitter.com/ZrZYOGTjRh

— Jake Shapiro, but festive 🎁 (@Shapalicious) April 20, 2017

“We felt pretty good about it once the X-Rays were negative,” Black said about CarGo. “Keith (Dugger) and I talked to him and he feels good enough to go.”