Colorado Rockies: Injury news, updates on Jon Gray, David Dahl, and Wade Davis

On Friday, Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black gave some updates on three Rockies players that are currently on the injured list.

Before Friday’s 10-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies placed starting pitcher Jon Gray on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. In a corresponding move, they called up right-handed pitcher Jose Mujica up from their alternate training site.

In his pre-game presser, Bud Black updated the media on the status of Gray along with outfielder David Dahl and reliever Wade Davis.

Jon Gray

Every starter pitcher has some inflammation in their throwing shoulder after they pitch. That is why they usually do not throw whatsoever the day after a start. After the day of rest, the inflammation goes down and they will play some catch or have bullpen sessions in the ensuing days until their next start.

For Jon Gray, though, that inflammation did not subside after his start on Tuesday so as a result, the Rockies placed him on the 10-day injured list.

With the off-day that the Rockies had on Thursday, Gray’s turn in the rotation will come up early next week while the team is in San Diego. Black said that the Rockies will likely send Chi Chi Gonzalez out there on Tuesday.

So, as of Saturday, the Rockies rotation will most likely look like this

• Saturday vs. Dodgers: German Marquez
• Sunday vs. Dodgers: Ryan Castellani
• Monday vs. San Diego: Kyle Freeland
• Tuesday vs. San Diego: Chi Chi Gonzalez
• Wednesday vs. San Diego: Antonio Senzatela

In that Padres series, the Rockies will face their three best starting pitchers: Dinelson Lamet, Mike Clevinger, and Zach Davies.

Black said that the Rockies will re-evaluate Gray once the 10 days are up but Black does not expect that Gray will be on the IL much longer than the 10 days, if he needs any more time than the minimum 10, at all. Since the move is retroactive to September 2, Gray will be eligible to return next weekend, when the Rockies will face the Los Angeles Angels at Coors Field. Gray also may only miss one start

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David Dahl

David Dahl has been on the 10-day injured list for two and a half weeks with lower back soreness. In the meantime, he has been at the Rockies alternate training site, taking swings there frequently.

One of the days that he faced live pitching was Friday, according to Black.

"“David had a good day today,” said Black. “We’re going to, again, assess that as this afternoon goes on. He took a lot of that bats at Coors Field and the alternate site today. Word got back to me that he felt great. He swung the bat well, the ball was coming. off the bat, he was driving the ball. Physically, he feels good. Mentally, he feels good so you can expect David, hopefully, to join us whether he gets activated or not, we’ll see. But from what I was told today, he’s in a really good spot.”"

When he does return this season, with the acquisition of Kevin Pillar, the Rockies will have to decide what they want to with Dahl: either have him play center field and have Pillar move to a corner outfield spot, move Dahl to a corner and utilize Raimel Tapia or Charlie Blackmon as the primary DH, or have Dahl primarily come off of the bench.

Wade Davis

Bud Black also provided an update on Rockies reliever Wade Davis.

"“He threw yesterday,” said Black. “I think it his second time [throwing] at the alternate site [and h]e felt physically good. We’ll continue to assess Wade’s stuff to see where he is velocity wise,  see where his secondary pitches are, but he’s feeling much better and, you know, I do think there’s a chance that he can come back and be a part of this [team] in some capacity.”"

Whether the Rockies get the Wade Davis that pitched for them in 2018 (4.13 ERA, 1.053 WHIP with an NL-leading 43 saves) or the Wade Davis since (9.13 ERA, 1.897 WHIP, and 17 saves) remains to be seen but the Rockies bullpen still needs some help, as Rockies fans have seen recently, even with the acquisition of Mychal Givens.

The Rockies will face the Dodgers tonight at 7:10 p.m. (Mountain time) as they look to get one game closer to getting back to .500.