Chatwood healing fast, expects to make next start

DENVER -- When Tyler Chatwood said following Sunday's game he planned to make his next start for the Rockies, it was more than baseless optimism.

Chatwood said he plans to throw his usual bullpen Wednesday, just three days after he took a line drive directly off his right hand. His hand was so swollen after that Chatwood had trouble gripping the ball properly and lost feeling in his thumb.

Manager Walt Weiss pulled him three batters later after he surrendered a two-run homer and two walks to the next three batters.

But the right-hander is healing faster than expected and said the swelling has gone down, making it much more likely he will make his next start against the Padres on Saturday.

"To be honest with you, I thought he'd probably miss a start, because when I watched the replay, it wasn't a glancing blow, he got smoked," Weiss said.

"So yeah, I'm a little surprised that it looks like he's got a chance to make his next start."