SAN DIEGO -- With the 2016 season beginning to wind down, the Rockies pitching staff could see limitations on a pair of rookie starters begin to take effect.
Tyler Anderson and Jeff Hoffman have both seen major elbow injuries in the past, with Hoffman undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014 and Anderson sitting out the entire 2015 season trying to heal from a stress fracture. Anderson also had his 2016 debut delayed by an oblique injury.
"Anderson's a little bit unique, that case," manager Walt Weiss said. "We've kept an eye on him, haven't kept a hard number for innings or anything like that. Just more monitoring him. With Hoffman, there's a number, I'm not exactly sure what it is."
Hoffman has thrown a combined 136 1/3 innings in 2016 between Triple-A Albuquerque and Colorado. That's preceded by 104 innings in his first season as a professional after undergoing surgery and getting taken ninth overall in the 2014 Draft. Anderson has thrown 127 1/3 innings between four levels this season, including 96 2/3 Major League innings in which he's registered a 3.35 ERA and 148 ERA+.
One pitcher not facing a limit is Saturday starter Jon Gray, who Weiss said is under no restrictions for the remainder of the season. Gray threw a total of 155 innings last season and entered Saturday at 145 2/3 frames.
"It's a progression," Weiss said. "You take care of him that first year, but eventually you want to build on those innings and that's where he's at now. We're going to let him go."
Parra near return
Outfielder Gerardo Parra (hamstring) said he thinks he could return Sunday, but Weiss wasn't as optimistic.
"He's getting there. I don't think he pulled that hammy too bad. I think it's just a few days," Weiss said. "We'll look for him, tomorrow might be a stretch, but if not tomorrow, shortly there afterwards."
Parra suffered a hamstring strain in Wednesday's game against the Giants and has been out since.
"I feel around, 70 percent, 80 percent. I don't feel 100 percent, but I feel like I want to help the team," Parra said.
Moll out of Arizona Fall League
Sam Moll, the Rockies' No. 21 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, has been taken off the roster for the team's Arizona Fall League affiliate and will instead receive instruction to get him ready for next season.
"Right now, we just want to get his mind right and work some things that we feel he needs to work on instead of going to the competition of the Arizona Fall League," said Doug Linton, the team's Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
Moll will work on his slider and shortening his delivery after a season when he posted a 4.94 ERA in 47 1/3 innings with Triple-A Albuquerque. The team is discussing candidates to fill Moll's roster spot.