The Rockies placed starting catcher Wilin Rosario on the 15 day disabled list to make room for Jhoulys Chacin before this afternoon's game. Rosario is reportedly suffering from a viral infection, perhaps the same infection that also laid reserve infielder Josh Rutledge low earlier in the week.
The 25 year-old Rosario was off to a bit of a slow start offensively in 2014, mustering only a .239/.274/.398 line (68 wRC+) in 95 plate appearances to start the year. Still, he represented big power potential with every plate appearance and the Rockies will miss that sorely. With Rosario out, Jordan Pacheco will presumably assume the mantle of the primary catcher. Pacheco has a .278/.325/.444 line (95 wRC+) in 40 plate appearances this season, which is great for a back-up catcher, but he has been plagued by poor defense throughout.
The Rockies brought Michael McKenry up from AAA yesterday in anticipation of needing another catcher, and McKenry will start this afternoon's game. The 29 year-old McKenry is a former Rockies farmhand who has served as the reserve backstop for the Pirates for the last three years. The AAA staff has raved about McKenry's ability to call a game, and it will be interesting to see if McKenry plays well enough in his cameo for the Rockies to give him a longer look.
In more positive news, Jhoulys Chacin will be making his season debut today for the Rockies. Chacin is the team's most accomplished starter and is coming off of a 5.8 rWAR season in which he was Colorado's most valuable player. If he can be anywhere near that pitcher for the Rockies this season, Colorado will be in a pretty good spot.
In losing Rosario and bringing back Chacin, the Rockies will keep four players on the 15 day DL (and Brett Anderson on the 60 day DL). My belief is that Rutledge and Rosario will both need the minimum 15 day stint, while Michael Cuddyer could come off the DL any day now. It's a good thing too, because May could be a very tough slog for the Rockies if they aren't close to full strength.