Rockies may seek rotation help for fifth spot

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies left-hander Drew Pomeranz's command tripped him up Saturday during the Rockies' Cactus League opener, an 11-2 victory over the D-backs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Pomeranz, 24, spent most of last year in the Majors even though the injury-riddled Rockies would have preferred to give him more development time. A candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, Pomeranz started Saturday's game and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks.

Some of his sequences were good, like when he forced three grounders. But he lost Paul Goldschmidt on a 3-2 pitch in the first inning, and walked Eric Hinske to open the second.

"[Pomeranz] is a tough at-bat for anybody because you don't see the ball well," Weiss said. "Command is the next step for him, but I thought he did a nice job. I thought all our pitchers did a good job."

Righty Tyler Chatwood, another fifth-spot competitor, gave up two hits and a walk but struck out one.

Chatwood and Pomeranz will flip-flop Wednesday against the Padres at Peoria, Ariz., with Chatwood starting.

Chatwood, Pomeranz and lefties Christian Friedrich and Josh Outman have more concerns in their race for the fifth spot. The Rockies have been actively seeking a trade for an experienced starter who profiles well at Coors Field. ESPN and the Denver Post reported Saturday that the Rockies are pursuing the Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann, and could deal Friedrich (who had a back issue before camp and a stiff neck during camp and hasn't progressed to throwing in games) for him. The Denver Post, citing sources, also reported that the Dodgers have called the Rockies and other clubs while shopping left-hander Chris Capuano.