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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Set for bulk-relief outing
Rotowire
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed that Dollander will cover the bulk of the innings out of the bullpen behind opening pitcher Juan Mejia during Thursday's game against the Astros in Houston, Eli Whitney of BlakeStreetBanter.com reports.
After making a one-inning appearance in his most recent outing Sunday against the Padres, Dollander was expected to continue serving in a more traditional relief role this week with the Rockies getting Jose Quintana (hamstring) back from the injured list Wednesday, but Kyle Freeland's (shoulder) move to the IL in a corresponding transaction has left a rotation spot open. The Rockies will turn to Dollander to essentially take Freeland's turn Thursday, but the 24-year-old righty will probably need a strong showing against the Astros to ensure he receives additional bulk-relief appearances or starts. Tanner Gordon struck out four over four scoreless innings of long relief in Wednesday's 3-1 loss, giving the Rockies a viable alternative the next time as a fifth starter is needed if Dollander can't get the job done.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Tosses inning in relief Sunday
Rotowire
Dollander yielded one earned run on one hit over one inning of relief in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Padres.
Dollander has made all four of his appearances out of the bullpen this season, but he served as the de facto fifth starter for Colorado in his previous outing, covering 4.1 innings behind opener Jimmy Herget in the Rockies' 7-3 loss to San Diego on Thursday. The right-hander worked in a more traditional relief role Sunday, helping the Rockies get through the series finale after starter Kyle Freeland (shoulder) was scratched shortly before opening pitch. Assuming Freeland is able to make his next turn, Dollander appears likely to remain in the bullpen moving forward. The Rockies still have an opening for a fifth starter, but Jose Quintana (hamstring) could be ready to return from the injured list as soon as Wednesday to fill the void.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Fares well behind opener
Rotowire
Dollander allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against San Diego on Thursday.
Dollander has yet to start a game this season, but he's completed at least four innings in all three of his appearances so far. The right-hander tossed 81 pitches Thursday, throwing 55 of them for strikes and getting a healthy 14 whiffs. Dollander opened the season in poor fashion by allowing four runs over four innings against Toronto on March 30 (while ironically picking up his lone win of the campaign so far), but he's since given up just two runs while posting a 9:2 K:BB across 8.2 frames over his subsequent two outings. It remains to be seen if he'll eventually be moved into a traditional starting role, but for now he seems to be feeling comfortable in bulk relief after struggling to a 2-12 record and 6.52 ERA across 21 appearances (all starts) as a rookie last season.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Takes tough-luck loss Saturday
Rotowire
Dollander (1-1) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over 4.1 innings.
Dollander didn't start, but he handled a relatively big workload of 71 pitches with previously scheduled starter Jose Quintana (hamstring) landing on the injured list Thursday. Dollander followed two other pitchers Saturday and entered in the third inning, with his exit coming after getting one out in the seventh. Despite giving up just one run in a strong performance, the right-hander was charged with the loss as Colorado's offense was unable to score after the third inning. Dollander seems primed to pitch on days when Quintana had been scheduled to start, though it's unclear if Dollander will continue to work in bulk relief or if he'll transition to a traditional starting role.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Will pitch in Saturday's game
Rotowire
Dollander will pitch Saturday against the Phillies in place of the injured Jose Quintana (hamstring), Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Dollander is set to handle the lion's share of the workload Saturday, though it could come as a bulk reliever and not a traditional starting pitcher. The right-hander opened the season in the Rockies' bullpen and yielded four runs over a four-inning relief appearance Monday against the Blue Jays. Dollander could get multiple turns either as a starter or bulk reliever while Quintana recuperates.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Opening season in bullpen
Rotowire
Manager Warren Schaeffer said Sunday that Dollander will begin the season in the Colorado bullpen, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Dollander is one of the more prized young arms in the organization, and while the Rockies still likely view him as a starter over the long haul, he'll begin the season in a lower-leverage multi-inning role out of the bullpen on the heels of a rough spring. Over 14 innings in Cactus League play, the 24-year-old righty submitted a 6.43 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Shaky spring
Rotowire
Dollander has allowed six earned runs on 13 hits and four walks with six strikeouts across 10.1 innings across four Cactus League appearances.
Dollander prevented runs effectively through his first three spring outings, but he still had only a 5:3 K:BB across seven innings. He also allowed four earned runs across 3.1 frames in his most recent outing against the Mariners, potentially placing his spot in the rotation in jeopardy to begin the season. In Thomas Harding's most recent roster projection, Ryan Feltner was penciled into the fifth starter role, though he also noted that Colorado would prefer for Dollander to claim the job.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: Fixes mechanics over offseason
Rotowire
Dollander believes he fixed a mechanical flaw with his delivery this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Dollander said he got "too coil-y in my legs, in my leg kick," which led to him throwing across his body and affected his command. After working with with T.J. Galenti, a Florida-based data scientist and baseball performance coach, Dollander said his mechanical problem was fixed "pretty fast." Dollander added that he's now able to better find the strike zone with his fastball and slider, and he's also "getting the 'vert' (induced vertical break) back" on his heater. The 24-year-old entered Rockies camp healthy following a late-season knee injury last year, and he's cemented into the Opening Day rotation. Dollander posted a 6.52 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 82:49 K:BB through 98 innings across 21 starts in his rookie season, with most of the damage done at home (9.98 ERA).
The Rockies placed Dollander on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a patella tendon strain in his left knee.
Dollander will be eligible to return from the injured list to start one of the Rockies' final games of the season, but the more likely outcome is that Colorado keeps him on the shelf for the rest of the year. If that ends up being the case, he would finish his rookie campaign with a 6.52 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 82:49 K:BB through 98 innings across 21 starts. Bradley Blalock was recalled from Triple-A to round out Colorado's rotation.
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Rockies' Chase Dollander: IL stint coming
Rotowire
Dollander will be placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a knee injury, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Dollander reported knee pain after his start Monday and underwent imaging Tuesday. The exact results of those tests are unclear, but it will apparently be enough to send him to the injured list. Dollander's season is likely over, though he will technically be eligible to return in the final few days of the season. If he remains on the shelf, the 23-year-old will finish his rookie campaign with a 6.52 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 82:49 K:BB across 98 innings.
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