Colorado Rockies: Gerardo Parra not starting again with calf issue

Gerardo Parra is once again not in the Colorado Rockies starting lineup on Sunday, marking the second straight game the Rockies could be without one of their biggest offensive weapons of late.

The 30-year-old outfielder is once again dealing with a leg issue, although it doesn’t seem to serious enough to land him on the disabled list. According to Colorado manager Bud Black, Parra has had a tender spot in his calf after being hit there on a pickoff attempt in a recent game against the New York Mets. He also fouled a ball off the same spot in the series opener against the Pirates on Friday.

"“A lot of blood has drained down because of that trauma and it’s sore,” Black told Rox Pile and other reporters on Sunday morning. “He has a buildup of blood right in his calf and it’s tight because it’s swollen. There’s a tight feeling because of the blood accumulating in the calf area. He’s being having treatment trying to get that blood out. When you bleed you have some bruising, but this is not a long-term thing.”"

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The tightness explains why Parra wasn’t inserted as a defensive replacement late in Saturday night’s win over the Pirates. Alexi Amarista drew the late duty in a double-switch in the eighth inning.

Black said Parra is available to pinch hit if needed on Sunday. His role could be expanded when the Rockies travel to open a series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

"“It’s lessening every day and hopefully he’s in there tomorrow,” Black said."

In 187 at-bats this season, Parra is hitting .358 with eight homers and 40 RBI. That included a 4-for-5 day against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday when Parra reached base in his 10^th consecutive at-bat. Only five other Rockies in franchise history have reached a double-digit consecutive on-base streak. Eric Young holds the Colorado record at 12.

Next: The latest injury updates on Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood

Parra missed about a month spanning June and July because of a strained quad. He hit .571 in June before suffering the quad injury on June 6. Since returning on July 7, he has hit .513 this month.