MIAMI -- Rockies right-hander Christian Bergman completed a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game on Saturday morning at Marlins Park. He will make his first injury rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Albuquerque, as he finishes his comeback from a left oblique strain.
The Rockies want to build Bergman to the point that he could comfortably pitch five innings, since his role is as a long reliever who can start if necessary. Bergman will throw 60-65 pitches in his start on Wednesday at Fresno.
Bergman (1-3, 5.89 ERA) sustained the injury on May 15, early in a four-batter outing against the Cardinals. He risked further damage by continuing to pitch after the pain surfaced.
"It wasn't too serious -- the worst ones are where you get a lot of black and blue, but I didn't have that," Bergman said. "But it is annoying. I couldn't sneeze without feeling any pain for about two or three weeks. I have allergies, but I was lucky. It just wasn't that time of year, I guess."