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The Colorado Rockies have placed starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood on the 15-day disabled list in advance of the second game of their three-game set against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. The injury flared up for Chatwood on Sunday in the midst of his start against the Phillies. The Rockies elected to wait to see if Chatwood would be able to make either of his next two starts but now he’ll sit out for at least the next two weeks.
Chatwood has had a fantastic campaign after missing all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. His 3.75 ERA in 127 1⁄3 innings is good for a 77 ERA-, second on the team to Tyler Anderson. His success has been somewhat non-conventional, as he’s allowed just .246 batting average against with 6.2 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in his 22 starts, putting up a 4.21 FIP with a .283 BABIP. This is Chatwood’s second stint on the DL this year. He missed just over two weeks after being placed on the DL June 19, also due to a lower back strain.
Taking his place on the roster is right-hander Christian Bergman. Bergman broke camp with the Rockies back in April as a long-man out of the bullpen. He was pressed into a spot start against the Chicago Cubs on April 16, tossing five innings while allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. He went on the disabled list on May 20 due to a strained left oblique and hasn’t been back on the roster since; he was optioned to the ABQ roster as soon as his rehab stint was completed.
In nine starts for the Albuquerque Isotopes Bergman has a 4.23 ERA, 1.34 WHIP with 6.0 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 44 2⁄3 innings. Right now it’s unclear if he will be filling a bullpen role for the Rockies or if he will be taking Chatwood’s spot in the rotation. More on this as it develops.