Colorado Rockies: Austin Gomber ‘on the comeback trail’ from injury

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black declared Friday that starting pitcher Austin Gomber is “on the comeback trail” following left forearm tightness that the left-hander experienced in his last start June 19.

"“He threw it yesterday and felt fine,” Black said about the bullpen session that Gomber participated in Thursday. “He will throw another one either tomorrow or Sunday morning.“He is on the comeback trail. He is doing fine. We will figure out what we are going to do this week with him. Probably looks as though he won’t pitch on this (upcoming) road trip so his next Major League action will be after the All-Star break. But he is feeling good.”"

Will the All-Star Game break help with the timing of Austin Gomber’s return to the Colorado Rockies?

Following the end of the current homestand against St. Louis on Sunday, the Rockies will have an off day on Monday before embarking on a six-game road trip with three games against Arizona and three contests against San Diego before the team takes a four-day hiatus surrounding the July 13 All-Star Game, taking place at Coors Field.

"“Probably it’s a blessing here that maybe he had this little window of being shut down,” Black said. “We were probably going to do that at at some point with him just based on where he was last year and the year before as far as innings and pitches thrown.”"

Gomber was removed after two innings for precautionary reasons due to the left forearm stiffness in his start June 19 against Milwaukee at Coors Field. He allowed two runs in the first inning of that contest to snap a 23.1-inning scoreless streak at home that was the second longest such streak in franchise history.

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After issuing seven walks in his first appearance as a Rockie April 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gomber — who was acquired by Colorado in the trade that sent Nolan Arenado to St. Louis — has not surrendered a base on balls in his last 22 innings on the mound. That streak, which began May 29, is tied for third-longest in franchise history.

"”I think he will be ready to go after the All-Star break at some point relatively soon after the break and to resume what we saw as real solid pitching the first half of the year,” Black added."

In 15 starts this season, Gomber is 6-5 with a 3.68 earned run average. He has won his last three and four of his last five decisions. Through his last eight starts, he is 4-1 with a 1.61 ERA (44.1 innings pitched, eight earned runs).

Entering his June 19 start, Gomber’s 0.64 walks per nine innings mark and 13.67 strikeouts/walks ratio were both tops among Major League starting pitchers.