SAN DIEGO -- Bartolo Colon might not have a lasting spot with the Braves' rotation. But the 44-year-old hurler will get at least one more opportunity to show he's still capable of being a reliable starting pitcher.
Colon will be activated from the disabled list to start Wednesday's game against the Padres at Petco Park. The Braves will use six starters during this turn through the rotation. But Braves manager Brian Snitker indicated the six-man rotation will simply serve as a temporary fix to accommodate Colon's return.
"I'm just going to go ahead and play it by ear," Snitker said. "I'm not a hundred percent sure. This [turn] everybody will get a start. Then after [Monday's] off-day, we'll re-evaluate and figure it out."
Colon had a Major League-worst 7.78 ERA when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle on June 6. He was scheduled to make a start against the Giants last week, but was scratched with what was termed a sore back.
Though he has spent the past couple of weeks completing bullpen sessions, Colon has not pitched in a game since June 5, when he surrendered the Phillies' eight earned runs in three innings. The veteran hurler has allowed at least six runs in five of his 12 starts. He has allowed at least seven runs in each of his past three outings.
Colon completed one of his finest starts of the season on April 16, when he limited the Padres to one run and two baserunners over seven innings. He has a 9.21 ERA over the nine starts that have followed.
The Braves have won 12 of 19 games since Colon was placed on the disabled list.
If Colon struggles again Wednesday, the Braves could opt to put him in the bullpen or possibly contemplate eating the remainder of the one-year, $12.5 million contract the pitcher was given in November.