Colorado Rockies injury news: Carlos Gonzalez not in lineup but improving

Carlos Gonzalez was once again not in the lineup for the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field.

Gonzalez was taken out of the game on Thursday afternoon against the San Diego Padres with what was described at the time as a calf cramp. He was not in the lineup on Friday when Arizona and Colorado opened a three-game series in Denver. However, he was seen loosening up in the dugout late in Colorado’s 6-3 loss.

Colorado manager Bud Black told reporters on Saturday that while CarGo was trying to get loose in the dugout for a possible pinch hitting appearance, he didn’t feel comfortable putting Gonzalez into a situation that could have worsened his injury.

"“We were just reluctant,” Black said. “I didn’t feel good about it. With one out, if he hits a ground ball and trying to leg out a double play ball. There are a number of reasons but we felt how he was physically, and this goes back to how he was earlier in the afternoon, he tried to do everything he could do to prepare himself to play, which he did. That was my decision to not pull the trigger.”"

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Black said Gonzalez was improved heading into Saturday’s action.

"“He’s healing. He’s better today than he was yesterday,” Black said. “If that same scenario happens today, we could pull the trigger. But yesterday, there was too much of (a chance of) putting CarGo at risk.“He’s going to jog a little bit this afternoon. He’ll hit on the field with the group. He’s going to move around a little bit and test the calf. We’ll have a better idea during BP and then we’ll get in the clubhouse. As the game starts and unfolds, we’ll see how he is.”"

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Gonzalez is battling a season-long slump that has seen him hit just .200 with two homers and six RBI in 112 plate appearances. That’s why we said something has to be done about CarGo and his spot in the lineup in this article.