LOS ANGELES—The Colorado Rockies’ bullpen, which has been exceptional through the first three games of the team’s current road trip, got another boost on Sunday.
The club announced it reinstated Tyler Anderson from the 60-day disabled list, giving manager Bud Black another option as the team tries to navigate through September with a staff full of rookies and second-year starters. Anderson, who falls into the latter category, could be used in the Rockies’ series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers in what is a designated bullpen day, with Tyler Chatwood getting the start.
“Tyler’s ready,” Black told reporters before the afternoon tilt at Dodger Stadium. “His pitch mix is fine; he feels good about his velocity and secondary pitches ... he’ll help us.”
Black praised Anderson for his work in three Triple-A rehab appearances in which the left-hander struck out 13 batters in 12 1⁄3 total innings.
Anderson was one of the Rockies’ brightest spots of 2016, posting a 3.54 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 114 1⁄3 innings while establishing himself as one of the game’s best contact managers. But a knee injury has contributed to a significant step backward for the 27-year-old southpaw this season; despite striking out a batter per inning, Anderson owns a 6.11 ERA in 63 1⁄3 frames while seeing an increase in his hard-hit rate and decrease in ground balls.
To make room for Anderson on the 40-man roster, the Rockies recalled right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz and placed him on the 60-day DL with right elbow inflammation.