This Rockies pitcher’s play has fans craving more 

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 -- The glimpses that right-hander Peter Lambert has offered in two appearances may leave everyone wanting more, but the Rockies want to make sure they don’t ask too much.

Lambert fired 2 1/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts Wednesday in a 4-3 victory at Pittsburgh and 3 1/3 scoreless frames with five strikeouts in Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Phillies. Each time, he replaced an injured starter -- Antonio Senzatela after he sustained a right-elbow sprain and Ryan Feltner after he sustained a concussion and small skull fracture from Phillies Nick Castellanos' liner.

With Feltner’s injury opening a starting rotation spot, could that go to Lambert, which was part of the rotation plan before Lambert underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020? Lambert’s second appearance this year was 43 pitches, which means 60 next time is doable.

“I’m going to do whatever they ask,” said Lambert, who debuted in 2019 (3-7, 7.25 ERA in 19 starts) before elbow issues showed in Spring Training 2020. “If they come to me and [a start] is what they want, I’m totally game for that.”

However, the Rockies are taking a long view with Lambert, 26, given how much time he needed to recover. Lambert is on an innings' budget. No hard-and-fast number has been announced, but club officials say it’s around 100 -- and the goal is for him to be pitching at the end of the regular-season schedule. Counting five closely monitored appearances at Triple-A Albuquerque before being recalled to the Rockies, Lambert is at 19 innings.

“He’s doing pretty well in that role now,” manager Bud Black said. “Peter hasn’t pitched in a couple of years [16 total appearances 2021-22, including two Major League starts in ‘21]. That hasn’t changed.”

Lambert had made 136 professional appearances -- all starts until Wednesday and Saturday. Entering games quickly and knowing he’s pitching in small chunks requires efficiency -- a trait that can serve Lambert when he returns to starting.

“The game plan as a starter is kind of the same -- get quick outs and go deep in the game,” Lambert said. “In that aspect, that experience can help me a lot.”

Lambert is working with a fastball that averages 94 mph, and his changeup is effective when located. He also can add and subtract movement on his breaking pitches.