Senzatela among 4 Rox placed on COVID list

DENVER -- Rockies scheduled Friday starter Antonio Senzatela, relievers Yency Almonte and Jhoulys Chacín, and outfielder Yonathan Daza were placed on the injured list on Friday, per MLB COVID and contact tracing protocols. Additionally, manager Bud Black and first-base coach Ron Gideon were not permitted to work Friday under the same policy. The Rockies did not specify the reason any of those affected were not available.

Right-handed pitcher Chi Chi González had a day’s notice that he would be starting Friday’s first post-All-Star break game against the Dodgers at Coors Field, said bench coach Mike Redmond, who served as manager in Black's absence.

In addition to bumping González’s start up a day, the Rockies reached into Triple-A Albuquerque to recall lefty relief pitcher Ben Bowden, righty reliever Antonio Santos and outfielder Sam Hilliard, and selected the contract of lefty reliever Zac Rosscup as an injury replacement.

But Redmond, a former Marlins manager who has run the club in Black’s absence before, said González was not surprised when he arrived at Coors Field.

“He was told yesterday that this was going to be his start so he was able to play catch and prepare like a normal start,” Redmond said Friday.

The lineup didn’t change. Daza and Garrett Hampson have shared center field. But with the Rockies going against lefty starter Julio Urías and Hampson having strong numbers against lefties, it was logical to believe he would start.

With Gideon out, Doug Bernier, who coordinates research and development to help with game-planning, took over as first-base coach.

“We may not specialize in outfield or infield or whatever, but we've all been around and been able to do it, see how it works,” Redmond said. “He's going to be ready. Like Buddy and I put it a lot, that’s why we have rule No. 1, be ready for anything.”

Redmond could not answer questions about how long affected personnel would be absent.