CarGo out of lineup Tuesday with sore knee
Rockies taking cautious approach with slugging outfielder
ATLANTA - Colorado Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez was not in the starting lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Braves, marking the 15th time this season that he'll miss a start. Gonzalez continues to nurse a sore knee that has bothered him off and on for weeks.
"He's day to day, but he's definitely available," manager Walt Weiss said before the game. "I don't anticipate it being a major deal."
Gonzalez has started 109 games for the Rockies this season and has hit all 30 of his home runs as the team's starting right fielder. The team has a scheduled off-day on Thursday in Pittsburgh, so Weiss said he'd consider holding Gonzalez out of the lineup in Wednesday's finale here, too, in order to give him extra rest.
With CarGo out, Weiss shuffled his lineup on Tuesday, inserting leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon into the third spot. It was only the fourth time in 428 career games Blackmon hit third while veteran shortstop Jose Reyes moved into the leadoff spot
The Rockies made another late lineup change, too, scratching right fielder Brandon Barnes (stomach virus), moving Matt McBride to right and inserting Kyle Parker in left.