Colorado Rockies: Possibilities for Thursday’s fifth starter

With Antonio Senzatela being optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque, the Colorado Rockies need another starter for Thursday’s game.

After pitching to a 17.18 ERA in his last three starts and an overall 6.29 ERA in 18 starts on the season, the Colorado Rockies optioned right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela back to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

With him being optioned, the Rockies will need somebody to start in his place on Thursday in the finale of a four game series with the Washington Nationals. The Rockies have a few options that they could turn to for the start.

Jeff Hoffman

As a part of Senzatela being optioned, Jeff Hoffman was recalled from Albuquerque to help in the bullpen. However, as Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post noted on Twitter on Sunday, that doesn’t Hoffman could be used as a starter in the near future.

He last started for the Isotopes on Wednesday and he earned the win as he gave up four runs in six innings in the ‘Topes 9-4 win.

Chi Chi Gonzalez

Chi Chi Gonzalez has been on the trip from Denver to Albuquerque often lately as he was just sent back to the ‘Topes early last week, making it his second time he has done that this month.

It would be the day for his turn in the rotation for the Isotopes as he pitched for them last night but on Thursday, that would only be the ninth day after being sent down.

Therefore, the only way he would be able to be called up is due to an injury or if he was called up as the “26th man” if the Rockies and Nats need to play a double header.

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Chad Bettis

The Rockies could see if Chad Bettis could go for a short start for them on Thursday since he is one of the Rockies long relievers and he has started in the past.

However, since he has an ERA of 12.06 in his last 12 outings of the ‘pen and he has allowed at least one earned run in nine of those 12 outings, I think that this is highly unlikely.

A bullpen day, in general

The Rockies could decide to do a “bullpen day” in general, particularly if they are carrying 10 relievers on the roster, like they currently are.

Most of the guys gets an inning or two and you have a regulation game covered. However, if the Rockies bullpen has to be utilized a lot earlier in the series, as they have in the past few weeks, this would be even more unlikely.

Final Thoughts

Unless the Rockies acquire a pitcher on the trade market between now and Thursday (which is exceedingly unlikely), I think that the Rockies will likely go with Hoffman or Gonzalez (with a corresponding player moving to the IL or a double header) for the start.

Due to ineffectiveness of and injuries to other starters throughout the season, it has become a real weakness of the team and their depth, as you have probably have seen, is started to wear thin.