Pat Valaika out with oblique strain

Colorado Rockies utility man and pinch-hitter extraordinaire, Pat Valaika, will miss the next few weeks with an oblique strain. It is unclear at this time if he will be able to rejoin the club in time for Opening Day.

Valaika was unlikely to be in a starting role but he was a near lock for the bench after he was so good in 2017, especially in the clutch.

The injury, while not expected to keep Valaika out long term, immediately tests the thinnest area of depth for the Rockies. With Brendan Rodgers still too far away to vault to MLB right away, this increases the chances of Daniel Castro or Shawn O’Malley breaking with the team.

It also further exacerbates the problem of the remaining question over who the Rockies big bat off the bench, late in games, is going to be.

All that noted, it’s unlikely this injury necessitates a roster move unless it worsens.