Colorado Rockies Activate Tyler Chatwood, Adam Ottavino

We’ve been talking for days about how the Colorado Rockies were soon going to have a shakeup in their pitching personnel. On Tuesday, that day finally arrived.

Prior to their game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Tuesday night, the Rockies reinstated right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood from the 15-day disabled list and right-handed pitcher Adam Ottavino from the 60-day disabled list.

In corresponding moves, right-hander Eddie Butler was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque and right-hander Justin Miller was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 3) with a left oblique strain.

Chatwood was placed on the disabled list June 19 with a mid-back strain after being removed from a start on June 18 in Miami after 1.2 innings pitched. That was a low point of a season that has seen him post an 8-4 record with a 2.89 ERA in 13 starts with the Rockies.

His eight wins lead the Rockies and are tied for 11th in the National League. Additionally, Chatwood is 5-0 with a Major League-leading 1.25 ERA on the road.

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The 30-year-old Ottavino will be making his first appearance on the active roster since undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 6, 2015. Working his way back to the Rockies, Ottavino made 10 rehab appearances this season between High-A Modesto and Triple-A Albuquerque, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. He did not allow a baserunner in his last three appearances with four strikeouts.

As the Colorado closer in 2015, Ottavino went 1-0 with three saves in three opportunities in 10 appearances, pitching 10.1 scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and 13 strikeouts. He will certainly be in the conversation as the season moves along to resume his role as closer.

Chatwood and Ottavino will take the place of Butler and Miller on the Colorado active roster.

Butler once again struggled to find his place with the Rockies, posting a 2-5 mark with a 6.96 ERA in 12 appearances, including nine starts. In those appearances, the 25-year-old surrendered 71 hits (including 12 homers).

Whether it was starting or relieving, Butler didn’t impress with the Rockies. He was 2-4 with a 6.85 ERA in nine starts and 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA in three relief appearances.

The 30-year-old Miller is 1-1 with a 5.35 ERA in 31 appearances with the Rockies. His 35.1 innings pitched led all Rockies relievers. In his last seven games covering nine innings, Miller has given up 14 hits and eight runs while walking six and striking out nine.

Next: Jake McGee Activated in Another Colorado Move

Our take

Simply put, the Colorado Rockies pitching staff got better today. Chatwood’s return will be a huge relief to a Rockies rotation in need of some good news. Ottavino will also bring a steady presence and spark to a bullpen that has entered Tuesday’s action ranked 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a 4.98 ERA.

Butler and Miller have neither one inspired much confidence when they’ve taken the mound in recent games. Chatwood and Ottavino will do the exact opposite.

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