Red-hot Parra (calf) held out of starting lineup

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DENVER -- A bruised right calf shelved Gerardo Parra from the starting lineup for the second straight day on Sunday, though the Rockies outfielder is expected to dodge the disabled list.
Parra injured himself on Friday fouling a 92-mph four-seamer off Trevor Williams into his calf in the sixth inning of a 13-5 loss to the Pirates, and left the game the next half-inning. He hasn't been reinstalled since, though manager Bud Black said Parra is day to day and could pinch hit. Head athletic trainer Keith Dugger has been cautious about pushing him immediately back.
"It's lessening each day, and hopefully maybe he's in there by tomorrow," Black said.
In nicking himself on Friday, Parra aggravated what had been a lingering sore spot where he was hit on a pickoff attempt by White Sox catcher Omar Narváez on July 9. Parra had played through minor pain, but after being struck by the foul, he's experienced an accumulation of blood that has swelled the area.
Parra missed a month with a strained right quad suffered when attempting to steal second on June 6, and last year was out 47 games with a sprained left ankle.
When healthy, Parra has slashed a productive .364/.386/.545 with eight homers and 41 RBIs, eight walks and 202 plate appearances over 59 games (46 starts).
Holland's future usage not affected by high pitch count
Despite a 34-pitch count on Saturday that was Greg Holland's highest since throwing 46 on Aug. 5, 2012, Black said he has no reservations about turning to the closer in future four-out save situations.
Holland picked up his MLB-best 31st save in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Pirates, and his second this year with four outs. He entered the game against a red-hot Josh Bell in the eighth and needed just one pitch to get his first out, but in the ninth, put the first two runners on and threw six straight balls while pounding the edges of a lean strike zone, surpassing his previous high pitch count of 26, done twice this year.

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"That will not deter us from using Greg again in any situation like that," Black said. "But again, that situation has to line up."
Black visited Holland at the mound after he had given up a single to Starling Marte that scored a run and loaded the bases for the tying run, and had no reservations about keeping him in the game.
"Before I got to the dirt, I said, 'I'm just giving you a breather,' and we scripted a couple of pitches. That was it. He wasn't coming out."
"I didn't think he was coming out there to pull me anyway," Holland said. "As a competitor, I would've been pretty upset if he was, but that's his call."
Such a situation could look much different in the immediate future should the Rockies pursue relief help ahead of the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, as expected.
Chatwood to throw simulated game Monday
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood will throw a second simulated game on Monday in St. Louis, the day before he is eligible to come off the DL from a strained right calf suffered last Saturday at Citi Field.
Chatwood (6-11, 4.47 ERA) threw a two-inning sim game at Coors Field on Friday to right-handed hitting Pat Valiaka and left-handed hitting Tony Wolters. Chatwood is unlikely to return until at least next weekend in Washington, as the Rockies have set their rotation for the Cardinals series, with Antonio Senzatela, Jon Gray and Jeff Hoffman, in order, Monday through Wednesday.

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