McMahon goes on IL; Rockies call up Fuentes

DENVER -- The Rockies have placed first baseman Ryan McMahon on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow strain and recalled corner infielder Joshua Fuentes from Triple-A Albuquerque, the club announced before Saturday night’s game against the Dodgers.

McMahon is the second Rockies first baseman to hit the injured list in the first week-plus of the season. Daniel Murphy suffered a fractured left index finger in the season’s second game and is expected to miss at least a month. McMahon’s injury occurred Friday when he was reaching for third baseman Nolan Arenado’s errant throw on A.J. Pollock’s grounder in the ninth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Dodgers.

McMahon is hitting .200 (5-for-25) with two doubles, eight strikeouts and four walks in seven games.

The right-handed hitting Fuentes, the No. 11 Rockies prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and cousin of the six-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award-winning Arenado, missed Major League Spring Training with a hamate injury that required surgery. But he recovered before the start of the season and was 3-for-7 with a home run and two doubles in Albuquerque’s first two games.

Fuentes, who plays first base and third base, earned the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player award last year by batting .327 with a .354 on-base percentage and .517 slugging percentage, 14 home runs, 39 doubles, 12 triples and 95 RBIs.

Foster is ‘ultimate believer’ in Anderson

Lefty Tyler Anderson is 1-8 since last Aug. 4 -- a 12-start (regular season) period that has seen his hard-hit rate balloon from 28 percent last season before Aug. 4 to 37.6 percent since. He also has given up a .390 batting average on at-bats ending with a four-seam fastball and .400 on at-bats ending with a cutter during this rough period.

Pitching coach Steve Foster, however, said he trusts Anderson to improve his pitch location, which is a key.

“I’m an ultimate believer in the guy because of his studious, principled, disciplined ways and preparation,” Foster said. “He’s that way with his body. He’s that way with his mind. I believe that early struggles aren’t always the worst thing. Sometimes, they help us learn about ourselves.

“To me, when he’s great, he uses his fastball more. When he’s great, he has great fastball command. It hasn’t been there just yet. Those are things we’re working on currently.”

Awards night

Arenado received his sixth National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award in as many seasons before Saturday night’s game. Louisville Silver Slugger Awards were presented to Arenado; pitcher Germán Márquez, who celebrated a new five-year contract; and shortstop Trevor Story.

Injury updates

• Righty Antonio Senzatela (infected right heel blister) made his first Minor League rehab start for Albuquerque on Saturday night, against Salt Lake City.

• Lefty reliever Chris Rusin (midback strain) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and likely will throw another before beginning a rehab assignment, manager Bud Black said.