After being sent to the 10-day DL for a right intercostal strain, Chris Rusin has been called back up to the Colorado Rockies, and the team has sent Antonio Senzatela down to Triple-A Albuquerque.
That, per Thomas Harding:
When #Rockies face #Mets, LHP Chris Rusin will be activated and RHP Antonio Senzatela optioned to Triple-A @ABQTopes. No official announcement, but it could be a chance to build Senzatela's pitch count. FWIW, Rox will have 4 bullpen lefties, Mets 4 lefty hitters and three switch.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) May 4, 2018
For Rusin, control issues plagued his start to the season, pitching in eight games, giving up seven runs in his first five appearances. That bloated his ERA to 9.00 on April 8, but, before being injured, he was able to bring it down to 4.97.
Still, that’s a far cry from Rusin’s career-best 2017 campaign. Last year, he was one of the best relievers in the Rockies’ arsenal; pitching in 60 games, finishing seven, going 5-1 with a 2.65 ERA.
With the Rockies at the New York Mets today, Rusin is joining the team and will be available to pitch.
Meanwhile, Senzatela has struggled in a relief role this year after being a starting pitcher for the Rockies as a rookie in 2017. “Senza” has pitched 17.1 innings, giving up 23 hits and 12 earned runs, and his ERA sits at a lowest-of-the-season 6.23.
For Senzatela, the move down to Triple-A Albuquerque may be a chance for him to transition back into a starter role, where he was last year through August before being moved to the bullpen.
As a starting pitcher last season, Senzatela began the campaign 7-1, but finished 10-5 in 20 starts. After that great start to the season, he went 1-4 in games in which he gave up 4-plus earned runs, lacking the support needed to win. Last September, Senzatela was moved to the bullpen full-time, finding some success.
But, are they wasting his talent there?
With Kyle Freeland struggling — going 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA to this point — the Rockies may look to bring “Senza” back as a starter in the near future.