Colorado Rockies injury news: DJ LeMahieu ‘playable’ if needed

DJ LeMahieu was not in the Colorado Rockies lineup on Wednesday night when they prepared to take on the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field.

LeMahieu, one of four Rockies selected to play in Major League Baseball’s upcoming All-Star Game in Miami, suffered a right groin cramp running to first base in San Francisco on Tuesday. He sat out Wednesday’s game against the Giants and the first two games of the following series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When he returned on Sunday in Arizona, LeMahieu went 2-for-5 at the plate. He followed that with a 3-for-4 performance on Monday when the Rockies opened a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field.

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However, LeMahieu was not in the lineup on Tuesday or Wednesday. After watching LeMahieu move gingerly in his two-game return, it wasn’t a complete surprise to see him taking some time off.

Colorado manager Bud Black said LeMahieu could be available if needed for pinch-hitting duties on Wednesday night.

“He’s playable,” Bud Black said. “I guess that’s how I would categorize it. We felt from the coaching staff, medical staff and DJ that it was probably best for him to not start tonight’s game but be ready. Hopefully he gets a little bit better as we move on through this weekend.”

Over his last 10 games, LeMahieu is hitting .375. After starting the year hitting just .171 through his first 10 games, the 28-year-old second baseman has raised his season average to .309 with three homers and 38 RBI.

Colorado could use LeMahieu’s bat in the lineup as the Rockies are currently mired in an offensive funk that has seen the team total just 11 runs in its four July games.

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Alexi Amarista will once again fill in at second base for LeMahieu while his traditional spot at second in the lineup will be filled by Raimel Tapia, who once again gets the start in left field with Gerardo Parra and Ian Desmond on the disabled list.