Story could be back by weekend

Aday after receiving the results of an MRI that showed inflammation and soreness in his right elbow but no structural damage, there’s no definite timetable for Trevor Story’s return, but it’s possible he will play during this weekend’s threegame series at Arizona.

The shortstop is headed to Salt River Complex on Thursday to get more treatment and “maybe do a few baseball activities over there,” according to manager Bud Black, to rehab from the minor injury that originated on a diving defensive play in Monday night’s series opener at Dodger Stadium.

“It felt a lot better yesterday, and it feels a lot better today, too,” Story said. “It’s obviously always scary when you’re talking about an elbow, but getting the results from the MRI was huge, and it being just inflammation is something we can handle.”

Story said he felt “relief, for sure,” upon finding out there were no major issues with his ulnar collateral ligament and that he’s “looking forward to the next couple days” in terms of his progression back onto the field.

Garrett Hampson started at shortstop Tuesday night in Story’s place, and Ian Desmond got the nod at the position for Wednesday night’s series finale.

“It’s encouraging,” Black said of Story’s progression.

Rockies’ rotation shakeup.

Jon Gray was originally scheduled to start Sunday at Arizona, but now Kyle Freeland — previously projected to take the hill again Monday against Philadelphia for the start of Colorado’s final homestand — will be pitching against the Diamondbacks in his place.

Gray’s turned in three straight ugly starts while looking like a liability for not only the Rockies’ stretch hopes but their ability to contend should they reach the postseason. Gray has posted a 10.80 ERA with five home runs, nine walks and a .349 opponent average in just 10 innings pitched over those outings.

In Monday’s latest debacle at Chavez Ravine, Gray lasted only two frames, surrendering six earned runs and effectively handing Los Angeles the series opener on a silver platter.

Black sidestepped a question about when Gray’s next start would be. Gray said he hasn’t been told when he’ll pitch next.

“Ask that guy (referencing Steve Foster, walking by). He might know,” Black said with a grin. “Foster, when’s Gray pitching again?”

Foster’s retort put the onus back on Black: “I don’t know. Ask that guy.”

Regardless of the skipper’s semantics, it seems Black and the coaching staff are very much weighing the rotation heading into the club’s final 11 games, and Gray realizes the only way to limit those discussions is to perform better the next time he’s handed the ball.

“I know the pitcher I can be, and I’m not worried that’s going to go away,” Gray said. “It just has to consistently show up in games, and not just in practice.”

Gray was, however, encouraged by his bullpen session Wednesday, in which the righthander worked on keeping his mechanics from getting to his head, relying instead on his muscle memory while letting it fly.

“I just threw a bullpen a little bit ago,” Gray said. “It was rapidfire, no thinking. It went good, really good.”

No excuses for Nolan.

Coming off his first twoerror performance in a couple of years Tuesday and hitting just .143 (3for21) in the five games of the road trip entering Wednesday’s game, third baseman Nolan Arenado made no excuses for his recent lackluster play.

It has nothing to do with the right shoulder tendinitis that kept him out of the lineup in early August, he said, especially defensively.

“Nothing’s lingering. I’m just making bad throws,” Arenado said. “I’ve got to make better throws.”

The allstar also emphasized that “no one’s rattled” in the Colorado clubhouse despite the struggles of the past week with divisional and wildcard races that now require the Rockies to make up some ground.

“Obviously it’s disappointing to lose a series, and backtoback series, because we haven’t done that (since early August),” Arenado said.