Colorado Rockies injury news: “Super cautious” with Antonio Senzatela

Spring training is winding down for the Colorado Rockies and the names on the injury report have been minimal so far in 2022. However, with Opening Day less than a week away, there is some news on starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela that will bear watching for Rockies fans.

Colorado Rockies are being “super cautious” with starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Colorado Rockies will be “super cautious” in the words of manager Bud Black with starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela because of what is being called a “lower leg situation.” Senzatela’s scheduled spring training start on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox was scratched, but Harding reports that the 27-year-old right-hander will still pitch on Monday or Tuesday before the Rockies break camp and prepare for an Opening Day matchup on Friday in Denver against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

How exactly Senzatela will pitch over the next couple of days and how much of a concern the lower leg situation is are currently both unknowns. However, Black believes that Senzatela is still on track to make his regular-season debut during the opening series against the Dodgers. Kyle Freeland will throw on Opening Day, with Germán Márquez and Senzatela following in a still-to-be-determined order.

That would leave Austin Gomber and Chad Kuhl to pitch during the first road trip of the season for the Rockies, a two-game trek to Texas to take on the Rangers the following Monday and Tuesday.

Senzatela has pitched in just one spring training game so far this year, giving up three hits and five runs over four innings in a March 29 outing against the Los Angeles Angels. Included in that damage was a pair of home runs, something Senzatela limited last season as he gave up just 12 long balls in 156.2 innings. He finished last season with 0.50 home runs per nine innings through 12 starts at Coors Field (surrendering just five homers in 90.2 innings pitched). That was the sixth-best single-season mark in franchise history (with a minimum of 12 starts).

Bud Black will update the media again on Monday and we will have more information on Senzatela’s status when it becomes available.