DENVER -- Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela is expected to miss six to eight months with a torn left ACL, manager Bud Black said prior to Friday's series opener against the Giants.

Senzatela, who was injured while trying to cover first base on an infield bouncer in the second inning of a 13-0 road loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, is expected to undergo surgery next week.

"It's a tough one for Antonio," Black said. "I feel bad for any player whose season comes to an end due to injury, and a lengthy one, too. But he'll get the repair. He'll be back in six to eight months, hopefully at the start of next season."

Senzatela, 27, went 3-7 with a 5.07 ERA in 19 starts during an injury-filled 2022 season. His Spring Training was affected by a right hamstring injury, and he went on the injured list twice previously, with a right lower back strain and right shoulder inflammation. Before Thursday's struggle against the Cardinals, when he was charged with five runs in 1 2/3 innings, Senzatela had logged four straight quality starts and had begun incorporating his changeup and curveball.

Senzatela is in the first year of a five-year, $50.5 million contract plus a 2027 team option. The Rockies have tried to keep a pitching core together. Although they lost Jon Gray to the Rangers via free agency last offseason, they signed Senzatela, lefty Kyle Freeland (five-year, $64.5 million deal) earlier this season, and righty Germán Márquez for five years (through next season) and $43 million with a '24 club option.

Of the core crew, however, Senzatela is the first to sustain a major injury. 

"I'm so sad for him, for us, for everybody," Márquez said. "We'll pray for him. But he's going to be ready again for next season. He worked so hard to try to become the best in the game."

Being swept in St. Louis during a difficult season was tough enough. Senzatela's injury was the capper.

"When it happened, our whole dugout went silent," Freeland said. "We saw him go down and kind of knew that something bad happened. We were hoping it wasn't as bad as a full tear in his ACL. But we're there for him and we'll support him."

Candidates to replace Senzatela in the rotation are righty Chad Kuhl, who is out with a right hip flexor strain but will make an injury rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Albuquerque at Tacoma, and lefty Austin Gomber, who hoped to build on 2021 (9-9, 4.53 ERA in 19 starts). But Gomber has struggled and bounced between the rotation and bullpen this year (5-7, 5.86 in 24 games, including 16 starts).