Cuddyer sits out second game, likely to miss finale

DENVER -- Rockies right fielder and reigning batting champ Michael Cuddyer sat out a second consecutive game Saturday, and according to manager Walt Weiss he is unlikely to start during the three-game Phillies series. Cuddyer suffered a left hamstring cramp in the seventh inning of Thursday's Rockies win in San Diego.

"He's still pretty sore," Weiss said. "We'll have to watch him closely the next few days here and see how he responds to treatment and go from there."

Weiss declared Cuddyer's status as "unchanged," joking "They're always available to pinch hit." Weiss may be reluctant to show his cards to the Phillies and reveal which bats are available off his bench, but after a 12-run outburst from the Rockies' Friday night lineup with Cuddyer watching from the dugout, the Rockies could be even more reluctant to push Cuddyer as he nurses a sore leg muscle.

"You can probably carry a player like that for three or four days before you start having to think about making a decision -- whether he's going to get better at that point or he's not," Weiss said, holding out hope that Cuddyer will improve in time to stave off a trip to the disabled list.

Cuddyer is hitting .317 (19-for-60) with three homers, 10 RBIs and a stolen base through his first 16 games.