DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies brought back Jhoulys Chacín, agreeing to a one-year deal with the right-hander on the eve of opening day. He was added to the active roster before the opener Thursday against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Chacín spent the first six years of his major league career in Colorado (2009-14) after being signed by the Rockies on Sept. 27, 2004, as a nondrafted international free agent. He ranks ninth in franchise history in innings pitched (672.0), games started (109) and strikeouts (514). He's also 10th with 38 wins. “I've never been scared to pitch at Coors Field,” said Chacín, who has a career 4.22 ERA at the hitter friendly park. “That’s something I always want to show and prove.” The 33-year-old bounced around after his tenure with the Rockies. He spent time with Arizona, Atlanta, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego, Milwaukee, Boston and had another brief stint with the Braves last season. Over 257 games, including 226 starts, he... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies brought back Jhoulys Chacín, agreeing to a one-year deal with the right-hander on the eve of opening day. He was added to the active roster before the opener Thursday against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Chacín spent the first six years of his major league career in Colorado after being signed by the Rockies on Sept. 27, 2004, as a nondrafted international free agent. He's 10th in franchise history with 38 wins. The 33-year-old bounced around after his tenure with the Rockies. He spent time with Arizona, Atlanta, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego, Milwaukee, Boston and had another brief stint with the Braves last season. Over 257 games, including 226 starts, he has a 78-87 record with a 4.04 ERA. Chacín will make $800,000 while in the majors, $150,000 while in the minors. He will receive $25,000 each for 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160 and 180 innings. Chacín spent spring training with the New York Yankees before being released.... [More]

The Colorado Rockies were fearing the worst when left-hander Kyle Freeland bent down after tossing a pitch in an exhibition game and grabbed his shoulder. So it was promising news Thursday when an MRI revealed no further damage than a strain in his pitching shoulder, which will sideline him for at least a month. Freeland will start the season on the injured list, but he could be back in the rotation a lot sooner than initially anticipated. “The findings showed that based on the degree of the strain, it looked pretty promising for Kyle here moving forward," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "The doctors are pretty convinced that there is a strain but he will overcome this and be pitching this season and hopefully again within a timetable that gives him a lot of starts as we get into hopefully May. "Again, we just don't know. But they're encouraged by it.” On Tuesday, Freeland threw a pitch to start the third inning and then immediately walked to the side of the mound. He buckled in discomfort,... [More]

In the infield dirt before each game, Colorado Rockies prospect Colton Welker always scribbles the same three letters: M-P-P. Make Pop Proud. It's a tradition he started in high school to pay homage to his father, who died of cancer when Colton Welker was nearly 10. On the cusp of making the Rockies roster, the versatile infielder can’t help but think of his pop. Or the role played by his mother, who turned into his training partner as she hit deep tennis ball after deep tennis ball with her racket so he could field them. “It definitely will be pretty emotional for me,” Welker said of potentially making his major-league debut after being picked by Colorado in the fourth-round of the 2016 amateur draft. “That’ll be very special for us.” At 225 pounds, Welker has a leaner look this spring (he hovered around 235 a year ago). He cut out carbs (something he loves) and sprinkled in spinach (something he loathes) in an effort to gain more muscle mass. The proof is in the pudding: He's batting... [More]

Brendan Rodgers and his strained right hamstring have the Colorado Rockies searching for a second option at second base. With Rodgers sidelined at least a month, the Rockies may need to shuffle around the infield. The plan could be to move Ryan McMahon from third base to second and Josh Fuentes across the diamond from first to third. There's always the less complicated option of inserting either Chris Owings or Garrett Hampson at second. One thing's for sure: The versatility of the Rockies is already being tested. “We’re not in a bind,” Rockies manager Bud Black said Friday morning. “It’s so advantageous to have those types of players who can bounce around because of cases like this, when maybe you lose a player.” Rodgers was having a productive spring, hitting .348 with two homers and five RBIs, before hurting his hamstring last weekend while trying to steal second base. He was steadily progressing when recent tests revealed “the trauma to the hamstring, a little bit worse than was originally... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Joey Gallo's spent several spring trainings in Arizona so the Texas Rangers slugger knows the difference between a real homer and the cheap high fly balls that can drift out of the park in the forgiving desert air. The 27-year-old says his power surge through the first two weeks of exhibition games is for real. “It’s a different environment, it’s a different field,” Gallo said. “But for me, look, I know I have power. I know the balls that I’ve hit so far this spring would probably go out of Globe Life Field anyway.” Gallo has hit an MLB-high five homers through his first seven games, giving the Rangers hope that he can bounce back from a tough 2020 season. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder has always had an all-or-nothing approach that often ends in a homer, walk or a strikeout. But in last year's pandemic-shortened season, it was a lot more “nothing” than “all." He finished with a .181 batting average and 10 homers which is one of many reasons the Rangers finished last... [More]

DENVER (AP) — In the estimation of Ryan McMahon, Nolan Arenado may just be the best third baseman ever. McMahon's upcoming assignment: Replace him. The Colorado Rockies' versatile infielder is in line to get the first crack at filling in for Arenado, an eight-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star who was recently traded to St. Louis. That's one tough act to follow. “My goal is just going to be to go out there and be the best version of myself,” said the 26-year-old McMahon, a career .237 hitter with 38 homers. “Nolan is going to go down as probably one of the best third basemen, if not the best, to ever play this game. All I can do is go out there and try to be the best version of myself and try to help this team.” Although McMahon’s played all over the infield for the Rockies, he grew up in California as a third baseman. He's the frontrunner to earn the job, with Brendan Rodgers, Chris Owings, Josh Fuentes (Arenado’s cousin) and Colton Welker also in the mix. “I’ve been getting... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland sees the prevailing theory out there: All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado traded away, the Colorado Rockies instantly written off. That sort of narrative just provides even more incentive for the left-hander and his teammates. “We haven’t even played a spring training game ... and people are already counting us out,” Freeland said Thursday as Colorado's pitchers and catchers cranked up spring-training workouts in Scottsdale, Arizona. “It's a great opportunity for us to shock the world.” Very few are betting too heavily on Colorado after the recent blockbuster deal that sent eight-time Gold Glove winner Arenado to St. Louis. T he Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections have the Rockies finishing last in the NL West with a forecasted record of 60.3-101.7. Colorado's worst record in franchise history was 64-98 in 2012 — the year before Arenado arrived in Denver. “Anytime you lose a player like Nolan, it’s going to hurt,” said Rockies reliever Scott Oberg, who’s... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies added outfield depth by acquiring Kevin Pillar and $50,000 from Boston in a trade-deadline deal Monday.In exchange, the Red Sox will received a player to be named or $100,000 along with $161,200 in international amateur signing bonus pool allotment.Pillar is joining his fourth team since being traded on April 2, 2019, from the Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants. He signed a deal with Boston in February. The 31-year-old Pillar batted .274 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 30 games for the Red Sox. He played a bulk of this season in right field, a spot occupied in Colorado by Charlie Blackmon. Pillar figures to spend time in center, with David Dahl currently on the injured list. In 12 career games at Coors Field, Pillar has a .326 batting average with one homer and seven RBIs.“We’re hoping that Kevin can come in and provide a spark to our offense and play an above-average center field in a park that demands it,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He’s... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies added outfield depth by acquiring Kevin Pillar from Boston in a trade-deadline deal Monday.In exchange, the Red Sox received a player to be named or cash along with international amateur signing bonus pool space.Pillar is joining his fourth team since being traded on April 2, 2019, from the Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants. He signed a deal with Boston in February. The 31-year-old Pillar batted .274 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 30 games for the Red Sox. He played a bulk of this season in right field, a spot occupied in Colorado by Charlie Blackmon. Pillar figures to spend time in center, with David Dahl currently on the injured list. In 12 career games at Coors Field, Pillar has a .326 batting average with one homer and seven RBIs.“We’re hoping that Kevin can come in and provide a spark to our offense and play an above-average center field in a park that demands it,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He’s an aggressive, hard-nosed player.... [More]

Rockies third. Josh Fuentes doubles to center field. Tony Wolters singles to left field. Josh Fuentes to third. Raimel Tapia flies out to left field to Josh Naylor. Trevor Story singles to center field. Tony Wolters to third. Josh Fuentes scores. Nolan Arenado lines out to center field, Trent Grisham to Trent Grisham. Trevor Story doubled off first.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rockies 1, Padres 0.Rockies seventh. Matt Kemp singles to right field. Ryan McMahon singles to shallow left field. Matt Kemp to second. Garrett Hampson singles to third base. Brendan Rodgers scores. Josh Fuentes strikes out swinging. Tony Wolters flies out to deep center field to Trent Grisham. Raimel Tapia singles to left field. Garrett Hampson to second. Ryan McMahon scores. Trevor Story strikes out swinging.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 3, Padres 0.Padres eighth. Trent Grisham strikes out swinging. Fernando Tatis Jr. walks. Manny Machado singles to right field. Fernando Tatis Jr. to third.... [More]

Rockies first. Garrett Hampson walks. Trevor Story walks. Nolan Arenado doubles to deep left center field. Trevor Story scores. Garrett Hampson scores. Charlie Blackmon flies out to right field to Kole Calhoun. Josh Fuentes called out on strikes. Elias Diaz lines out to shallow infield to Nick Ahmed.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks fourth. Starling Marte singles to right field. David Peralta singles to right field. Starling Marte to third. Christian Walker out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Sam Hilliard. Starling Marte scores. Eduardo Escobar flies out to left field to Sam Hilliard. Nick Ahmed strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 1.Rockies sixth. Brendan Rodgers strikes out swinging. Sam Hilliard singles to shallow center field. Drew Butera strikes out swinging. Garrett Hampson singles to shortstop. Sam Hilliard scores. Trevor Story singles to third base. Garrett Hampson out at third.1 run, 3... [More]

Rockies first. Raimel Tapia grounds out to shallow infield, Alex Young to Christian Walker. Trevor Story triples to deep center field. Nolan Arenado doubles. Trevor Story scores. Charlie Blackmon walks. Matt Kemp doubles to deep left field. Charlie Blackmon to third. Nolan Arenado scores. Josh Fuentes strikes out swinging. Brendan Rodgers flies out to right field to Jon Jay.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks second. Christian Walker homers to left field. Eduardo Escobar strikes out swinging. Nick Ahmed grounds out to shallow left field, Trevor Story to Josh Fuentes. Jon Jay homers to right field. Carson Kelly called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 2.Rockies fourth. Josh Fuentes strikes out swinging. Brendan Rodgers pops out to shallow center field to Ketel Marte. Garrett Hampson homers to left field. Drew Butera flies out to shallow infield to David Peralta.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rockies 3,... [More]

Dodgers first. Mookie Betts pops out to shallow right field to Brendan Rodgers. Corey Seager homers to left field. Chris Taylor grounds out to shallow infield, Ryan McMahon to Daniel Murphy. Cody Bellinger grounds out to first base to Daniel Murphy.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 1, Rockies 0.Rockies third. Garrett Hampson grounds out to shallow left field, Corey Seager to Matt Beaty. Charlie Blackmon grounds out to first base, Kike Hernandez to Matt Beaty. Trevor Story homers to left field. Daniel Murphy flies out to deep center field to Cody Bellinger.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rockies 1, Dodgers 1.Dodgers third. Matt Beaty lines out to deep right center field to Charlie Blackmon. Will Smith flies out to deep right field to Charlie Blackmon. Mookie Betts homers to center field. Corey Seager lines out to center field to Garrett Hampson.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 2, Rockies 1.Rockies fourth. Ryan McMahon homers to center field. Brendan Rodgers grounds... [More]

Astros second. Josh Reddick singles to deep right field. Yuli Gurriel strikes out swinging. Kyle Tucker triples to deep center field. Josh Reddick scores. Abraham Toro strikes out swinging. Taylor Jones walks. Martin Maldonado singles to deep left field. Taylor Jones to second. Kyle Tucker scores. George Springer singles to left field, advances to 2nd. Martin Maldonado to third. Taylor Jones scores. Fielding error by Raimel Tapia. Jose Altuve doubles to deep center field. George Springer scores. Martin Maldonado scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.5 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Astros 5, Rockies 0.Rockies second. Daniel Murphy singles to left field. Ryan McMahon homers to center field. Daniel Murphy scores. Brendan Rodgers called out on strikes. Sam Hilliard singles to right center field. Tony Wolters lines out to right center field to Josh Reddick. Raimel Tapia walks. Trevor Story strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 5, Rockies 2.Rockies third. Charlie... [More]

Rockies second. Nolan Arenado grounds out to shallow infield, Alex Bregman to Yuli Gurriel. Matt Kemp singles to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Throwing error by Framber Valdez. Raimel Tapia singles to center field. Matt Kemp scores. Chris Owings singles to center field. Raimel Tapia to third. Ryan McMahon hit by pitch. Chris Owings to second. Drew Butera grounds out to shallow center field. Ryan McMahon out at second.1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Rockies 1, Astros 0.Astros third. Taylor Jones flies out to right field to Charlie Blackmon. Martin Maldonado homers to left field. George Springer flies out to deep left center field to Raimel Tapia. Jose Altuve lines out to deep right field to Charlie Blackmon.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 1, Rockies 1.Astros fifth. Carlos Correa homers to left field. Kyle Tucker triples to deep right field. Taylor Jones singles to deep left center field. Kyle Tucker scores. Martin Maldonado singles to center field. Taylor Jones to second.... [More]

On deck: Baby Dahl!Colorado Rockies outfield David Dahl announced on social media Thursday that he and his wife are expecting a baby in January. That news, coupled with being considered high risk with his health, caused him to give serious consideration to whether he would to play this season in light of COVID-19 concerns.On deck for Friday: Soon-to-be-dad Dahl. He's expected to be batting lead-off and playing in center field for the opener in Texas against the Rangers.“I wanted to see how the protocols and everything played out in summer camp,” Dahl said of his decision process in a Zoom call. “Me being high risk and with my wife, Jacquelyn, being pregnant, I wanted to make sure we’re taking care of being safe. So far, so good. Testing is going well.“We’ve all been tested a good bit,” Dahl added. “We’re spaced out on the plane. We wear masks. I’m confident in all the protocols."It’s been an injury-filled baseball journey for the 26-year-old Dahl, who had surgery to remove his spleen in... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Tough times and bad timing defined the Colorado Rockies' hugely disappointing season that began with high hopes of ending the Dodgers' dominance out West but unraveled under the dual demons of frustration and failure.The pitching was horrendous, from the starters to the closers. Ace Kyle Freeland's mystifying plunge produced a cascading effect on the pitching staff and led to a bullpen implosion.The bats couldn't bail out the Blake Street Blunders once superstar Nolan Arenado endured a mid-summer slump."This is obviously not the season that we wanted to have," shortstop Trevor Story said as the Rockies wrapped up a 71-91 campaign that ended their two-year playoff run and sent them into an offseason of uncertainty. "We had some high expectations that we really didn't come close to meeting.""I thought we were going to be good," Arenado agreed.Although, he acknowledges that the Rockies sort of saw this coming when the front office let DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino leave last... [More]

Aug. 41884 — Pud Galvin pitched the most lopsided no-hitter in major league history as the Buffalo Bisons routed the Detroit Wolverines 18-0. It is the second career no-hitter for Galvin.1910 — Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia A's and Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox hooked up in a 16-inning scoreless tie. Coombs struck out 18 and allowed three hits.1945 — Bill Salkeld of Pittsburgh hit for the cycle in a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirate catcher went 5 for 5 and drove in all five runs.1945 — Boston's Tom McBride became the third player to drive in six runs in an inning as the Red Sox pounded Washington 15-4. McBride had a bases-loaded double and triple during the Red Sox's 12-run fourth inning.1953 — New York's Vic Raschi set a record for a pitcher by driving in seven runs in a 15-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.1963 — New York's Mickey Mantle, batting for the first time in two months after breaking his left foot, hit a pinch home run as the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have placed infielder Brendan Rodgers on the 10-day injured list with an injured right shoulder.The team made the move before Tuesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants. Colorado needed a spot on the 25-man roster for starter Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was slated to make his first appearance in the majors since 2016.Rodgers has an impingement in his shoulder after hurting it on a throw last weekend in Los Angeles during a series against the Dodgers. The move is retroactive to Monday.Rodgers was recalled from Triple-A last week for his second stint on the active roster. He is hitting .224 with seven RBIs in 25 games.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports