DENVER -- Rockies right-handed relief pitcher Scott Oberg’s attempt to fast-track his way to regular-season readiness went smoothly Sunday night with a 1-2-3 inning, in eight pitches, during an intrasquad game.

Oberg has been dealing with back tightness since the start of Summer Camp, and Sunday was his first intrasquad action. He’s scheduled to throw again on Tuesday during an exhibition game at Texas, and the team has until Thursday at 10 a.m. MT to set its roster for Friday’s opener against the Rangers.

“I felt all right overall out there today -- better than it has been the last week or so,” Oberg said. “The arm felt good, and there is a chance I can be ready for Friday. I’m still going to take things one day at a time.”

Oberg’s overall fitness was tested immediately, when leadoff hitter David Dahl grounded to first base and Oberg had to cover the bag. He said there were no issues. Oberg also coaxed a fly ball from Trevor Story and a grounder from Charlie Blackmon.

The Rockies expect Oberg to be a key part of the late bullpen. With the 60-game schedule offering long and intense stretches, it stands to reason he could help share the closer role. But that would happen only if he is healthy.

Fine, except for the solos
Righty Jon Gray built his pitch count to 63 over four innings on Sunday night. A few he would like to have had back: solo home runs by Matt Kemp and Chris Owings, and doubles by Kemp and Drew Butera. Gray gave up seven scattered hits, walked one and didn’t strike out any.

It’s likely that Gray will start Saturday at Texas.

Owings added an opposite-way three-run shot off righty reliever Jesus Tinoco.

Remember, he knows what he’s doing
Closer Wade Davis gave up a couple of homers during a live batting practice session early in Summer Camp, and many in Rockies Nation flashed back to last year's struggles. But over the last two intrasquad games, Davis has hardly been touched. Sunday, he walked one, struck out one and didn’t give up a solidly hit ball in 1 1/3 innings.

The right direction
Manager Bud Black has not announced his rotation, but it’s likely that German Márquez will start the opener, followed by Gray, then lefty Kyle Freeland next Sunday. Freeland will pitch in Monday morning’s short workout before the team heads to Texas for exhibition games Tuesday and Wednesday.

Black gave Márquez’s four innings and 64 pitches in Saturday night’s intrasquad game solid marks.

“He threw the ball fine -- stuff was good, normalcy across the board with his velocities on all pitches,” Black said. “He missed some location early. The ball David [Dahl] hit down the left-field line [for a double], that ball was up, out over the plate. He made a few mistakes with location. But his breaking stuff did get better as the game went on.”

Marquez fanned four of the final six batters.

Catching on?
Butera, a non-roster invitee competing for a catching spot alongside regular Tony Wolters, doubled off Gray and Tim Collins to follow up solid offense in Summer Camp. He also swung the bat well in Spring Training.

“I’ve been impressed by Drew,” Black said. “He had a good Spring Training down in Scottsdale. He’s swung the bat up here in these intrasquad games.”

Butera has played first base in the last two intrasquad games, and he has 26 career regular-season appearances at the position. Butera and Elias Díaz are non-roster players with Major League experience. Dom Nuñez, a left-handed-hitting prospect with power, also is in the catching mix.