GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder David Dahl and left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin have injuries that will keep them out for an extended period, manager Bud Black said Friday after his club pummeled the defending American League champion Indians, 16-7, at Goodyear Ballpark.
Dahl has been nursing an upper back issue that has restricted him to two Cactus League games and five plate appearances. Rusin hurt his right side Friday as he struck out Greg Allen for the second out of the fifth inning and immediately was removed from the game.
"I had it before in the past, and I went a little further in the past and I didn't want it to get that point," Rusin said. "I just took myself out for precaution."
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Black said the pitcher, who was claimed off waivers from the Cubs this past Sept. 27, would miss at least his next turn in the order if not longer. Rusin is in the mix as the club's fifth starter.
"It was a great decision for him to come out rather than fight through it, which was the mature thing to do," Black said. "He said he felt something. So we'll keep an eye on it. Hopefully, it's just mild. These obliques, these sides, you never know. Hopefully, it will improve, but he's going to be out for a while."
As far as the 22-year-old Dahl is concerned, he's undergone several scans that still haven't determined the nature of the injury, Black said.
Dahl was expected to compete for the starting left-field spot with Gerardo Parra. Dahl finished 2016 with a nice slash line of .315/.359/.500 with seven homers, 24 RBIs and an .859 OPS in 63 games.
At this juncture of the spring, there's no point in taking any chances, Black said.
"I don't know if this is a setback, we're just getting closer to a diagnosis," he said. "Where it's hurting, it's kind of hard to pinpoint. He's gone through a number of scans. We're going to be cautious with this to make sure it heals. He's going to be out of action for at least a few weeks."