Colorado Rockies: Mark Reynolds, Tyler Chatwood Return

The Colorado Rockies had good news today, with the return of starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood and first baseman Mark Reynolds returning from injury and put back on the team’s active roster. Utility infielder Daniel Descalso was placed on the paternity list.

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Chatwood made just one rehabilitation start and is slated to start for the Rockies in this Saturday’s game versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Chatwood told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post the plan was to make just this one start before returning to the big league roster.

“The plan was for me to make just one rehab start,” said Chatwood, who’s 10-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 22 starts. “I think it went well. I feel good and I didn’t miss that much time.”

The return of Chatwood provides a six-man rotation. Manager Walt Weiss likes the flexibility this gives him.

“We can alter the thing at any time, but it is going to be six (pitchers) for a cycle,” he said via Saunders. “But there are going to be other factors involved. We are trying to protect certain guys — innings-wise.”

Reynolds is returning just 16 days after having surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The team had adopted a platoon approach to first with Reynolds on the shelf, his return provides stability and an offensive boost to the position. Reynolds was well-above his career slash line this season prior to his injury.

Reynolds is expected to start today at first, but he won’t be rushed back into full-time action, according to Weiss.

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“It’s not like I’m going to be running him out there every day,” Weiss said via Saunders. “He’s just starting to take batting practice. But it’s another body we can use. He can take an at-bat and he can certainly play defense. But I look at it as him playing (on a) limited basis.”

Having the return of these two starters is good news as the club enters September still on the fringe of the second Wild Card contention (seven games back).

Additionally, the roster will expand to 40 players starting tomorrow which will help with depth and position flexibility.

Next: Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Third Basemen

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com unless otherwise indicated.