Rox attempt to ease along a 'pain-free' Gray

CINCINNATI -- Rockies right-handed pitcher Jon Gray played catch at 90-100 feet Friday as he tries to return quickly from a right flexor tendon injury, but he allowed that the club’s careful strategy with his health could mean that he may not reach his goal of missing just one start.

Gray, who left last Friday’s home start against the Athletics with the injury, said he is pain-free.

“I feel like I can do it,” Gray said of a quick return. "OK, it's like I don't know if that's different than normal, or would be completely asinine to try, but I think I can do it. They’re being very careful with it, because I wanted to throw yesterday, too. But they wanted to hold off just one more day, until there was nothing felt in my arm. Today, I didn’t feel anything.”

Gray said he wants to throw a bullpen session Sunday, but that will be up to the team’s medical and athletic training staffs. In fact, manager Bud Black said Friday afternoon that Gray will play catch again Saturday, then be re-evaluated. Whether they allow him to throw a bullpen Sunday is an open question, but the important factor is Gray is feeling healthy and the Rockies simply don’t want to risk upsetting that feeling.

The problem in the forearm and elbow area began during Gray's bullpen session before the game against the Athletics. Gray had given up three runs and four hits in just three innings at Pittsburgh on May 29 and wanted to extract greater fastball velocity during the throwing session.

But against the Athletics, when he went 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on four hits -- which included two homers -- Gray felt and saw concerning signs.

“I was a little nervous because I knew my [velocity] was up,” Gray said. “When you feel something in your arm and your velo is up, the worst thing comes to mind -- like something [bad] is there. I was nervous until the MRI came back, but when the MRI was clean, I felt a lot better about it.”