Highlights
The Colorado Rockies pushed two key players back toward a return. First baseman Ian Desmond and outfielder David Dahl on Friday made significant steps in their injury recoveries.
As the Giants sent their No. 1 pitcher Madison Bumgarner to the disabled list, the Rockies pushed two key players back toward a return. First baseman Ian Desmond and outfielder David Dahl on Friday made significant steps in their injury recoveries.
Desmond hit off a tee in an underground batting cage at Coors Field for the first time since suffering a broken hand in a Cactus League game March 12.
Desmond will next hit soft toss, then take batting practice, “all in the next few days,” Colorado manager Bud Black said.
He was tagged by an errant Reds pitch in a spring training game and fractured the second metacarpal in his left hand. He underwent surgery four days later to insert a metal plate. Desmond starting fielding drills last week in San Francisco, but batting was the last addition to his recovery.
He could begin a rehab assignment as early as next week.
Dahl received an MRI bone scan for the injured rib on his right side, a stressed bone that took him out of spring training in early March. The test “went very well,” according to a source, and Dahl will begin hitting soon, likely this weekend at extended spring training.
The rookie outfielder was with the Rockies on the just completed road trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles, but Thursday flew back to Rockies’ spring headquarters in Arizona for tests. Dahl’s injured rib, a stress reaction on his right side, near the upper back, had kept him from rotational activity, including full fielding movements and hitting.
Qualls back in action. Veteran right-handed reliever Chad Qualls (forearm strain) was with the Rockies on Friday, but will leave for Triple-A Albuquerque for more rehab games. He will pitch Saturday for the Isotopes against the Tacoma Rainiers.
He has allowed just one hit and no runs in 3 1/3 innings for Albuquerque in his rehab stint.
Bumgarner reaction. Black said he will not relish in Bumbarner’s shoulder injury, suffered Thursday in a dirt bike accident, even if it means the Rockies get a boost against their division rivals.
“When I talk to our guys, we worry about ourselves,” Black said. “Other teams have their things going on. We’ve been hit pretty hard. When you look at the talent we have on the disabled list, that’s real, man, that’s real talent. But we know that every night, no matter who we’re playing, we have to play our game.”
But he will miss watching Bumgarner from afar, Black said.
“I like watching him pitch. He’s a good pitcher,” the skipper said. “I hate to see those things happen because he’s good for our game and he’s good for baseball. All the things people say about him, I’m in line.”
Giants LHP Matt Moore (1-2, 4.26 ERA) at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-0, 2.37), Saturday 6:10 p.m., ROOT, 850 AM
His fastball has proved major-league ready in Senzatela’s first three starts — really, they’re the 22-year-old’s first three starts above Double-A. Against the Giants last week in San Francisco, he gave up three runs on seven hits in seven strong innings in the Rockies’ 4-3 victory, and his second career win. The Giants’ three runs all came in the first inning, then Senzatela settled in and cruised through the next six. He has walked just four batters total in 19 innings. Nick Groke, The Denver Post
Sunday: Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-3, 6,16) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 4.91), 1:10 p.m., ROOT
Monday: Nationals RHP Joe Ross (1-0, 3.86) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.32), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 2.89) at Rockies TBA, 6:40 p.m., ROOT
