Colorado Rockies injury news: Murphy, McMahon, Dahl, Senzatela

Mired in the worst 14-game start in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies are looking for any spark of positivity. Perhaps it will come in the news that some of the players on the injured list are nearing their return to the active roster.

Antonio Senzatela could reportedly be back on the mound as early as next Monday when the Colorado Rockies open a two-game road series against the San Diego Padres. The 24-year-old right-hander was left off the Opening Day roster because of a blister infection on his right heel. If he were able to come back on Monday, he would take the rotation spot of Tyler Anderson, who is on the injured list with left knee inflammation.

Colorado’s offense is in desperate need of some punch, batting .204 as a team after Friday’s extra-inning loss in San Francisco. Daniel Murphy, the Rockies’ biggest offseason acquisition, told MLB.com on Friday that he avoided surgery on his broken index finger and manager Bud Black said Murphy is starting to take some light swings in the cage. There is no timetable for his return but earlier estimates put Murphy out of action until possibly early May.

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Ryan McMahon, on the injured list with a sprained left elbow, is starting to do work in the batting cage and the field. McMahon, who suffered the injury on April 5 in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers while trying to make a play at first base, was on the field last week during the end of Colorado’s homestand against Atlanta trying to catch throws with the glove on his right hand just to stay active. He is likely the nearest to return for the Rockies of the injured group of Murphy, McMahon and David Dahl.

Speaking of Dahl, it was reported on Friday that the 25-year-old outfielder ran and played long toss in Arizona at Colorado’s spring training facility. That’s a good sign that Dahl, on the injured list since April 9 with a left side core injury, is starting the slow and tedious process of working his way back to the Colorado lineup. However, Black stressed that Colorado will take a cautious approach during Dahl’s rehab in order to avoid any setbacks. No timetable for his return has been set.