'Zero percent worry' as Kuhl continues prep

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Some experiments, like the one Rockies right-hander Chad Kuhl attempted in the first inning of Thursday afternoon’s 13-2 loss to the Giants, erupt into a fizzy chemical mess. But when you’ve been in the lab as long as Kuhl, you clean up and note the results.

Kuhl changed his hand positioning in his windup, bringing his glove below his belt instead of at belly button level. After serving back-to-back home runs to the Giants’ Tommy La Stella and Brandon Crawford and three walks, Kuhl trudged from the mound before the inning ended. Heath Holder finished it.

But, remember, Spring Training is testing. So he was allowed to re-enter. The second inning was harrowing in a different way -- not just two more runs, but three hard-hit balls right at him, one that knocked off his glove. But he returned for the third, and finished his outing with his third strikeout.

Kuhl washed all the bad away as soon as he fist-bumped catcher Elias Díaz.

It may be different and a little unnerving for fans new to Kuhl, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract early in Spring Training. But 100 Major League games, including 84 starts, in five seasons with the Pirates gives him the leeway to tune up without obsessing over results.

“Zero percent worry,” Kuhl said. “Knowing that this is the second time I’ve thrown outside to a live hitter, I’m completely fine with where I’m at and where I’m going to end up.

“I’ve been pretty consistent throughout my big league career if you look at the back of my baseball card.”

The Rockies targeted Kuhl, and Kuhl was accepting, because of his sinker. When the season starts -- Kuhl will face the Guardians on Tuesday in the final Cactus League game -- manager Bud Black simply wants that pitch effective.

“He’s got to get the ball down in the strike zone, work up when he needs to, but consistently stay down,” Black said. “He’ll throw a side and make another outing. It’s a shortened spring, that’s the reality of it. He’s a veteran pitcher. He’s been through it before. He’s got to make some adjustments this side session to consistently get the ball down.”

What was the goal of the change?

“I was trying to be gathered over the mound,” Kuhl said. “It actually made me slower instead of more smooth and balanced down the mound.”

Kuhl said he would have gotten out of the second with less damage had he “fielded my position better.” After La Stella’s liner tore his glove off, Crawford’s ground smash hit the heel of his glove. A clean pickup would have started a double play.

As Kuhl explained, Major Leaguers often experiment in hopes of unlocking production. And if it doesn’t lead to the improved execution he is seeking, like Thursday’s outing, at least it’s information.

One piece of info, though, is irrelevant to him.

“I probably will never even look at this box score, because it doesn’t matter,” he said. “So I’m just going to go through the video, look what I did and what I felt, compare the two, then move forward from there.”

Is the bullpen set?

The roster limit is 28 for the first month with no cap on the number of pitchers. The rule becomes 26 with 13 pitchers on May 2.

Thursday’s options of left-hander Ben Bowden and right-hander Jordan Sheffield to Minor League camp leave the Rockies with 15 healthy pitchers in camp. Scott Oberg (blood clots) is already on the 60-day injured list, and righty Peter Lambert felt an elbow twinge early in camp and is on a delayed schedule.

Will the Rockies keep all 15 or go with 14? Much can happen between now and the April 8 regular-season opener at home against the Dodgers.

Two of the three pitchers at the edge pitched Thursday.

• Righty Justin Lawrence has had an overall strong spring despite giving up two runs -- an infield hit followed by a Wyatt Mathisen triple -- against the Giants. Lawrence’s development of a breaking ball has accelerated his progress. Walks were a problem during Major League action last year, and Black said “his ball-strike ratio wasn’t great” and he needs to avoid deep counts.

• Righty Ashton Goudeau, who gave up two runs (one on a Luis González homer) in 2 2/3 innings, is vying for a multi-inning role. Black said Goudeau had a crisp 93-94 mph fastball with one poorly located breaking ball.

• Non-roster lefty Ty Blach, who pitched two scoreless innings Wednesday against the Angels, looks in strong shape. He has worked as a starter this spring, which means he could be conditioned to make a start if April weather forces a doubleheader.