The backend of the Colorado Rockies starting rotation is set to take a hit after skipper Bud Black announced on Friday that right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela is dealing with a right foot infection.
RHP Antonio Senzatela has an infection in his right foot and will be "out of action for awhile," Bud Black said.
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) March 15, 2019
The Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders later confirmed via Black that the injury is an infected blister on Senzatela’s right heel.
The ailment is the second of the preseason for Senzatela, with a stomach virus sidelining him for multiple days earlier this month.
Though a timeline is vague, the beginning of the regular season would appear to be in doubt for the youngster, with less than two weeks until Opening Day.
In Spring Training, Senzatela had allowed four earned runs in seven innings of action, tallying only a pair of strikeouts. The right-hander also allowed 12 hits in his limited innings, falling prey to a lack of command throughout the season’s exhibition period.
Last season, in 13 starts, with 10 relief appearances intertwined, Senzatela pitched to a 4.38 earned run average in 90.1 innings. His efforts also spanned to a single start in the postseason, a game one nod in the National League Division Series in which he accrued five innings, allowing only two earned runs against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The loss of Senzatela solidifies a spot in the rotation for journeyman Chad Bettis, as well as the likely inclusion of a long-relief arm being added to the bullpen. The club will have several options for length from their bullpen, with Jeff Hoffman likely being the most affected pitcher with the pending decision.
With the news, the Rockies rotation is nearly solidified with both Kyle Freeland and German Marquez atop the group. The pair will be followed by Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson and Bettis, with the latter two’s order still undetermined.
