A sore arm has detoured a career run for Austin Gomber.
The Rockies’ left-hander was scratched from his Monday afternoon start against Cleveland at Coors Field. Right-hander Anthony Molina, a Rule-5 draft pickup, was called on to fill in for Gomber.
The preliminary plan calls for Gomber to skip Monday’s start and pitch this weekend against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
“I felt really good after my last start in Oakland, but then we flew back here and there was a little bit of swelling and inflammation near the back of my triceps where it meets the elbow,” said Gomber, adding that his arm was at about 85%. “I skipped my bullpen, but then I felt better yesterday and much better today.
“I pitched through worse things last year, but we felt like with our schedule, we had the ability to skip (a start) and buy me a couple of extra days.”
In 10 starts, Gomber is 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA, the fifth-lowest ERA by a Rockies starting pitcher through their first 10 starts of a season in franchise history. In four starts in May, he has a 0.68 ERA, the fourth-lowest in the majors this month.
“We thought it was best to push Austin back,” manager Bud Black said. “His arm didn’t quite recover from his last start. It’s still a bit sore. This is a precautionary push-back.”
Lawrence to IL. Struggling right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence was placed on the 15-day injured list with what Black called “general arm soreness.” While Lawrence does have fatigue and soreness, the IL stint will also enable Lawrence to work on his mechanics.
“We will get him back on the horse with some drills that we feel will help him mechanically,” Black said. “We will get to him on the mound in about three or four days.”
Lawrence began the season as Colorado’s closer, but he’s been erratic and involved in several of the Rockies’ late-inning meltdowns. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.91 ERA over 20 appearances (21 1/3 innings) with 20 strikeouts and 15 walks.
In other bullpen moves, Colorado recalled right-hander Peter Lambert from Triple-A Albuquerque, selected the contract of left-handed reliever Josh Rogers and designated John Curtiss for assignment.
Beck update. Rookie outfielder Jordan Beck is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left hand Wednesday. Dr. Donald Sheridan, a hand specialist based in Scottsdale, Ariz., will insert a plate into Beck’s hand.
Beck broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand in the Rockies’ 8-4 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night at Coors Field. Beck, 23, jammed his left (glove) hand while making a diving catch on Nick Castellano’s sinking line drive in left field in the first inning.
“From what I’ve heard medically, this is a good thing because it speeds up the (healing) process,” Black said regarding Beck’s surgery.
Black added that the Rockies hope to have Beck back in four to six weeks.
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