Jordan Lyles Back with Rockies in Long Relief Role

Jordan Lyles is back with the Colorado Rockies. Just how long he remains with the big league club and in his newfound role remains to be seen.

Lyles was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque amidst a flurry of moves the Rockies made on Friday. Lyles and Miguel Castro rejoined the team while Scott Oberg was sent to Albuquerque and Christian Bergman was placed on the disabled list with a strained left oblique he suffered in Thursday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bergman was filling the role of long reliever for the Rockies, and that torch seems to have been passed to Lyles, who was sent down to Triple-A after struggling to a 7.64 ERA in four starts this season for Colorado. His time in New Mexico didn’t exactly seem to cure the 25-year-old’s issues as he posted a 1-1 mark at 5.40 ERA in four starts.

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One of the things that Lyles needed to work on during his time in Albuquerque was his control as he walked 11 and struck out just nine before being sent down. The walk-strikeout ratio was much better with the Isotopes, but Lyles still walked nine (striking out 15) in 20 innings. He also surrendered 28 hits in 20 innings on the mound.

Coming off two injury-riddled campaigns with the Rockies, Lyles agreed to a one-year, $2.975 million contract in the offseason. However, his inability to find the strike zone and fool hitters (allowing 22 hits in 17.2 innings) made it tough to stay in the rotation and in Denver.

Now, however, injuries have given Lyles another chance with the Rockies, albeit in a different role. How long Lyles stays in that role remains to be seen. Jason Motte is getting closer to rejoining the club after a spring training injury slowed his debut in Denver and Jorge De La Rosa had his first solid showing of his injury rehab stint in Albuquerque on Thursday night by throwing seven solid innings.

Next: Tyler Matzek Makes Step Toward Return

More than likely, Jordan Lyles is with the team for a limited time. However, those few days could be critical, both for the Rockies and the young pitcher’s future with the organization.