Chatwood nears return, could create logjam

DENVER -- Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood appears close to a return from a stint on the 15-day disabled list with an upper back strain.
Chatwood gave up two unearned runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings Monday in a rehab start with Double-A Hartford. He struck out three while walking one.
"I felt good," Chatwood said. "I think I was able to execute every pitch I wanted, which is good. I thought it was an overall successful outing. The biggest thing was to make sure my back felt good, and I wasn't having to deal with any pain, which was a plus."
Chatwood has rejoined the Rockies in Denver and leaves them with a potential decision with five other starters making a case to stay in the rotation. He said he expects his next start to be with Colorado.
Chad Bettis and Jon Gray have been rotation mainstays, excluding Gray's brief DL stint to begin the season. Jorge De La Rosa was briefly demoted to the bullpen in May, but has been effective since being reinstated, and Tyler Anderson has been among the team's best starters since his June promotion. Jeff Hoffman, the club's No. 3 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, figures to continue to factor into the rotation going forward, as well.
"We're not too worried about lengthening [the rotation] out," manager Walt Weiss said. "With Chatty ready to go, we're going to plug him in, but there's other dynamics to think about with the other five guys. We've got an off-day, so there's some different options there. Those are conversations we'll have in the next 24-48 hours."
Weiss added that the back injury -- which forced Chatwood to miss two starts in June -- does not appear to be a chronic issue. The team is working with him to tweak his delivery on the follow through to ease any potential problems.
LeMahieu helps Baton Rouge 
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was among many LSU graduates and Louisiana natives to help with the relief efforts for the recent flooding in Baton Rouge.
LSU has one of the largest contingents of Major Leaguers among colleges, including LeMahieu's former teammates Ryan Schimpf (Padres), Anthony Ranaudo (White Sox), Louis Coleman (Dodgers), and Mikie Mahtook (Rays). That group came together to create a website to help raise money for the community.
"A week ago we had a group text going, and we were brainstorming what we could do," LeMahieu said. "I think just using our platform to get the word out there and see what we can do to help those families that have been effective."
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player Association joined to contribute $250,000 to three charitable organizations. The American Red Cross will receive a $125,000 contribution and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and High Socks for Hope will each receive a $62,500 contribution.
Diaz's rehab progresses 
Right-hander Jairo Díaz, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March, continues to progress in his rehab. He has been throwing from 120 feet pain-free for two weeks and expects to throw off a mound in a month. After the season ends, he will report to the Arizona Fall League.