Swingman Bergman ready for first 2015 start
SAN FRANCISCO -- Rockies right-hander Christian Bergman entered the regular season with an uncertain role, and he'll enter Tuesday's start against the Giants having pitched just one inning. But that could be good.
"[Kyle] Kendrick told me about this role, 'At the very least, your arm is going to feel great, even if you're not pitching,'" said Bergman, who replaced Tyler Matzek on Friday, escaped a jam and earned a win over the Cubs. "But I've done my work on the side and threw a bullpen after the game yesterday."
During Bergman's rookie year in 2014, the Rockies won both of his starts vs. the Giants. In the first one, he gave up three runs and eight hits in six solid innings of a 5-4 victory at AT&T Park on June 14.
"The fans are great and their fans are always in every pitch, so I like it here, but it's a challenge," Bergman said.
Bergman also yielded nine hits but two runs in a 9-2 victory at Coors Field on Sept. 3.
Worth noting:
• Righty Tyler Chatwood, attempting to come back from Tommy John surgery before season's end, will be with the team through this road trip, then go to the team's complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. Chatwood is on a prescribed 10-day rest period, then he will begin throwing breaking balls and work his way up to facing hitters.
• Outfielder Drew Stubbs finished Spring Training with 25 strikeouts in 50 at-bats and had struck out in all three of his regular-season at-bats entering Monday. The Rockies want him to be a right-handed-hitting complement to an all-lefty regular outfield, but he'll have to find his confidence while receiving a limited number of at-bats.
"To stay hot or get hot, you've got to think in that mindset of the things you were doing when you were going well -- that's the only way you get there and stay there," said Stubbs, who avoided arbitration with a one-year, $5.8 million contract during the offseason. "When you have limited opportunity you have to be patient and use batting practice and your pregame routine to get to that spot."
• Rockies manager Walt Weiss gave shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who had left hip labrum surgery last August, a planned rest day Sunday. But outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who had left knee surgery last year, started Monday for the seventh time in as many games. Weiss has said he will monitor Gonzalez's playing time as well, but "their schedule isn't going to look identical."