Lamet a candidate to help Rockies' beleaguered rotation

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- With four rotation members on the injured list -- one for the season and two others looking at lengthy absences -- the Rockies are searching everywhere for starters. They’re even looking at their own injured list.

We’ll explain.

Before being claimed by the Rockies last season and finishing the year in the bullpen -- to good reviews -- righty Dinelson Lamet flashed elite stuff as a starter with the Padres. Rockies manager Bud Black noted Sunday that “we’re contemplating the possibility” that Lamet could help the current rotation.

In the truncated 2020 season, Lamet posted a sparkling 2.09 ERA in 13 starts -- good enough to finish fourth in Cy Young Award voting and earn a Second-Team All-MLB selection.

But the next two seasons brought inconsistency and pain, first in the elbow area and later pinpointed to the trapezius muscle group in the neck area.

After struggling to a 9.49 ERA in 13 appearances last season with the Padres, he was traded to the Brewers, but designated for assignment without appearing in a game. The Rockies claimed him on Aug. 5, and he showed enough promise late in the season (4.05 ERA, 29 strikeouts against 10 walks in 20 innings) that the Rockies avoided arbitration with a one-year, $5 million deal.

Then this year happened.

Lamet pitched poorly out of the ‘pen (1-1, 12.66 ERA, 13 strikeouts and 12 walks in 12 games) and landed on the injured list with lower back tightness. While out, the Rockies suggested he shorten his stride. After seeing positive results, including a return of the slider action he displayed last year, he was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque for injury rehab.

On May 16, he started -- as relievers often do on rehab assignments -- and went two innings, allowing four hits and a run. But Saturday’s second Albuquerque outing raised eyebrows -- four spotless innings with four strikeouts.

With No. 1 starter Germán Márquez out for the season (Tommy John surgery), Antonio Senzatela (right elbow sprain) and Ryan Feltner (concussion and fractured skull) not expected back soon, and rookie Noah Davis (right elbow inflammation) working his way back, the Rockies have cast a wide net.

They jumped when Tampa Bay designated Chase Anderson for assignment. Anderson threw five scoreless innings in his first Rockies start last week and will start Monday against the Marlins.

But the rotation, which had been solid during an 11-5 stretch before Friday, struggled over the weekend at Texas. Karl Kauffmann (making his Major League debut), Kyle Freeland and rookie Connor Seabold combined to yield 18 runs (14earned) in just 10 innings. It was not the three games the Rockies needed at the start of a 17-day stretch without a day off.

Freeland yielding eight runs (five earned) on nine hits in two innings on Saturday was a surprise, given his solid season.

Kauffmann and Seabold, however, are being asked to learn on the job. But they have to earn passing grades to keep the Rockies from spiraling during this stretch.

“We have five guys in our rotation right now -- Freeland, Anderson, Seabold, Kauffmann and Austin Gomber,” Black said. “They’re our five. We need those guys to pitch well, like all teams do.”