DENVER -- Rockies right-hander Christian Bergman was expecting to wake at 4 a.m. Tuesday to fly with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes from Colorado Springs to Oklahoma City. Instead, he received word at 12:30 a.m. that he would be joining the Major League club.
The Rockies placed Tyler Chatwood on the 15-day disabled for the second time with a back strain and recalled Bergman. Chatwood missed two starts in late June with the injury.
Bergman holds a 5.89 ERA over nine appearances with the Rockies this season. He made one start, holding the Cubs to two runs over five innings.
Bergman will initially be available out of the bullpen but is a candidate to fill Chatwood's rotation spot, which comes on Saturday against the Cubs at Coors Field. Bergman has been stretched out as a starter since coming back from a left oblique strain, averaging nearly 5 2/3 innings and 89 pitches in his last four starts.
"I feel good," Bergman said. "I was able to start a lot of games down there, and I was able to get my stamina back up. I've just been consistent, so I like where I am at. My stuff feels good."
Without making a roster move, long-reliever Chris Rusin is also an option to start Saturday.
However, with an off-day on Thursday, the Rockies could bump the other starters up a day and address Chatwood's rotation spot on Aug. 24.
The Rockies could call up right-hander Eddie Butler, who started nine games earlier this season, right-hander Jeff Hoffman, Colorado's No. 3 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com. or its No. 8 prospect, left-hander Kyle Freeland. Selecting Hoffman or Freeland would require the Rockies to clear a 40-man roster spot.
"I guess anybody's in play," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be somebody that's here right now. It can be anybody on the roster."
Motte has a good weekend
Right-hander Jason Motte took a step forward in his rehab from a right rotator cuff strain, but more importantly he recently welcomed his second child, as his wife gave birth to their first son, Sutter, on Friday.
Motte has been doing plyometrics -- drills such as throwing balls against trampolines or a wall -- and will play catch for the first time Wednesday. If everything goes to plan, he should throw on flat ground by the end of next week.
Miller close to restarting rehab
Right-hander Justin Miller is nearing a return to his rehab assignment after he aggravated his strained left oblique on Aug. 7 and was forced to rest for a week.
Miller threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday and threw from flat ground Tuesday. He is expected to join Albuquerque Wednesday to re-start his rehab assignment.