Colorado Rockies: 3 Players Who Are Under-Performing This Spring

Jordan Lyles

At the age of 26, the Colorado Rockies seem to still be trying to figure out what to do with Jordan Lyles.

Last season, he was both a starter and reliever. He was much better out of the bullpen, going 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA and even earning his first career save. When he started a game, the ERA ballooned to 8.55. Ouch.

This season, Lyles has been inked in as a reliever. In spring, it’s been a Jekyll and Hyde effort. In two outings, he’s logged two scoreless innings. In his other two outings, he’s surrendered six runs in two innings. That’s includes a five-run butchering at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers when he gave up two homers in one frame.

Should we be worried, seeing his 13.50 ERA this spring? Bud Black says no.

Next: Looking at Colorado's 3 Spring Position Battles

"“The conversion to reliever will not only benefit us but him and his career moving forward,” Black recently told Rox Pile. “I think he’s on board being a major league relief pitcher. Last year was a great step forward for him, according to Jordan and our pitching guys about where he is career-wise and what we need him to do. I think we’ve seen an uptick in his stuff out of the pen. He’s working on a couple of things delivery-wise that should help him control the running game. I think it will make his stuff a little crisper. He’s doing fine.”"