LOS ANGELES -- Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, whose sore right shoulder kept him out of the starting lineup for the third straight game Sunday, hit in the Dodger Stadium batting cage in his attempt to avoid having to go on the 10-day disabled list.
"Better, not good," Gonzalez said. "But better is good."
Gonzalez has undergone treatments and strengthening exercises since leaving Thursday's game when he felt pain after a swing. With Gonzalez, a three-time All-Star, struggling at a .221 batting average with six home runs, 20 RBIs and a .300 on-base percentage, the Rockies don't want him playing injured.
Gonzalez said he wants to play in the three-game series at San Francisco that starts on Monday. If the Rockies place him on the DL, they can backdate it a maximum of three days and give him at least a week to regain health.
"I'd prefer not to do that," Gonzalez said. "I want to play. That's the only way to get better, the only way to help."
Worth noting
• It took overnight for it to sink in, and Rockies right-hander Scott Oberg had to confirm it via video and online, but he hit triple-digits on consecutive pitches in the seventh inning of Saturday night's 4-0 loss to the Dodgers.
The pitches came during a strikeout of Kiké Hernandez -- 101 mph to bring the count to 0-1, and 100 on a pitch he wanted outside the zone. The count reached 3-2 before he fanned Hernandez swinging at 99 mph.
"I've never thrown that hard in my life," said Oberg, who recorded a scoreless inning. "I always thought it could potentially be in there. But when you're not thinking about it, it's a little more natural and has a chance to come out.
"There have been some games when I'm like, 'OK, yeah, it's not out of the question.' It just needed the right circumstances."
• Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra, who suffered a right quadriceps strain on June 6, is running at 65-70 percent without pain. He'll have an ultrasound Monday in San Francisco and after that an MRI exam in Denver. If all goes well he'll kick up activity -- he's already taking batting practice -- and move toward an injury-rehab assignment. Parra said he needs the ultrasound and MRI exam to help him feel confident pushing himself.
• The Rockies had righty Antonio Senzatela (9-3, 4.79 ERA) in the bullpen on Sunday, for the second straight game, in case of emergency. It's possible the rookie starter could be skipped in the rotation this week.
The Rockies have six starters, with lefty Tyler Anderson rejoining the rotation on Sunday after a left knee injury, and they will have seven when righty Jon Gray returns from a left foot navicular stress fracture next weekend vs. the D-backs, as announced by manager Bud Black on Sunday. The Rockies haven't announced a starter for Wednesday at San Francisco. The options: lefty Kyle Freeland (8-5, 3.70 ERA) on regular rest or Senzatela with an extra day's rest.
With rookies Senzatela, Freeland, German Marquez (who starts Monday at San Francisco) and Jeff Hoffman in the current rotation, the Rockies have said they are looking for ways to lighten their innings loads.