Faltering bullpen needs Betancourt
boston » By late June, trends create concerns. And there’s no denying the Rockies’ bullpen is heading in the wrong direction.
A look at the month-by-month ERA tells the troubling story: 3.00 in April, 3.24 in May and 4.76 in June.
As such, the most important thing that occurs Tuesday night at Fenway Park might happen during batting practice. That’s when closer Rafael Betancourt and middle reliever Edgmer Escalona will throw to hitters, testing out injuries for a second time. Betancourt has improved dramatically since a right groin injury forced him to the disabled list. He underwent plateletrich plasma therapy three weeks ago and has made steady progress since.
If he throws well, Betancourt hopes to be activated when the Rockies return home Thursday for a makeup game against the New YorkMets. Escalona landed on the disabled list with elbow pain. He also could be back this week, but given his relative inexperience, a rehab assignment might be warranted.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss said repeatedly over the last few days that Betancourt would return to the closer’s role, leaving him more flexibility tomatch up Rex Brothers late. Brothers has been pushing for an allstar berth. The league is batting just .189 against the left-hander, who has not allowed a run on the road this season in 16 appearances.
A healthy Betancourt and Escalona could also buy time to get Matt Belisle back on track. He has been the team’s best reliever over the past three seasons but is knee-deep in a slump. He says he’s healthy — he goes through routine maintenance on his arm after games— but has not been effective of late. He has posted an 8.44 ERAin 10 appearances this month, with foes batting .293.
“I always feel comfortable with Matty out there,” said Weiss, believing Belisle will rebound. “I love the
way he competes.”
Footnotes. Pitchers Chris Volstad and Logan Kensing cleared waivers and accepted assignments with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox.… Outfielder Kent Matthes, promoted to the Sky Sox after Corey Dickerson’s arrival in the big leagues, went 4-for-4 in his Triple-A debut.