Tyler Chatwood injury: Rockies place RHP on disabled list, recall Chad Bettis

The Rockies placed right-handed starter Tyler Chatwood on the 15-day disabled list and recalled reliever Chad Bettis from Triple-A Colorado Springs, the team announced on Wednesday.

Chatwood exited in the sixth inning of the Rockies' 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks with tightness in his right (throwing) elbow. At first, it didn't appear the injury was serious, as Chatwood remained in the dugout amid speculation that the Rockies "faked" an injury to allow reliever Chris Martin more time to get ready to inherit a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation. However, the team announced Chatwood's condition shortly thereafter, turning said good-natured speculation into legitimate concern. Chatwood recently underwent an MRI, the results of which could be known as soon as Wednesday night, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.

The DL stint will be Chatwood's second this season. He began the year on the shelf with a hamstring injury suffered while running the bases in spring training. Since being activated on April 13 in San Francisco, Chatwood is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA while striking out 20 and walking eight in 24 innings spanning four starts.

Bettis began the year with the big league club and posted a 7.15 ERA in 11⅓ innings before being demoted on April 25. In his last outing with the Rockies, Bettis surrendered a grand slam to Giants catcher Hector Sanchez in the 11th inning of a 12-10 loss at Coors Field. The 25-year-old right-hander made only one appearance with the Sky Sox, striking out a pair of batters in two perfect innings on Monday.

Jhoulys Chacin will presumably take Chatwood's spot in the rotation, extending what were initially supposed to be cameo appearances in the unit from Jordan Lyles and Franklin Morales. Chacin, like Chatwood, made a start on Tuesday, allowing a run on four hits and four walks in six innings in what was scheduled to be his final rehab appearance anyway.