Colorado Rockies LHP Tyler Matzek taking a 'mental break'

Colorado Rockies left-hander Tyler Matzek will be deactivated from Triple-A Albuquerque and will step away from game action to work on his mechanics, according to multiple sources.

Matzek was scheduled to start for the Isotopes on Monday but had his spot in the rotation taken by Carlos Hernandez, who was called up from Double-A New Britain. Matzek walked seven of the 11 batters he faced in his first Triple-A start on May 13. The 24-year-old southpaw was charged with seven earned runs on just one hit in one inning of work.

"We're taking him out of competition for a bit," Rockies manager Walt Weiss told The Denver Post's Nick Groke.

A team source told Purple Row the club wants to give Matzek a "mental break," and alluded to the possibility that he has "reverted to his old mechanics."

The Rockies optioned Matzek to the minors on May 8 after he began the season with 19 walks in 22 innings. Despite his struggles with command, Matzek posted a 4.09 ERA/112 ERA+, which is still the best mark out of any Rockies pitcher who has started more than one game this season.

Taking time away to sort things out is nothing new to Matzek. In 2011, Matzek returned to Mission Viejo, Calif. to work with his high school pitching coach after walking 96 batters in 97 innings in Low-A Asheville and High-A Modesto. He was able to work out his issues then and carve a path to the major leagues, which you can read more about here.