McMahon goes on IL; Rockies call up Fuentes
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DENVER -- The Rockies have placed first baseman Ryan McMahon on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow strain and recalled corner infielder Joshua Fuentes from Triple-A Albuquerque, the club announced before Saturday night¡¯s game against the Dodgers.
McMahon is the second Rockies first baseman to hit the injured list in the first week-plus of the season. Daniel Murphy suffered a fractured left index finger in the season¡¯s second game and is expected to miss at least a month. McMahon¡¯s injury occurred Friday when he was reaching for third baseman Nolan Arenado¡¯s errant throw on A.J. Pollock¡¯s grounder in the ninth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Dodgers.
McMahon is hitting .200 (5-for-25) with two doubles, eight strikeouts and four walks in seven games.
The right-handed hitting Fuentes, the No. 11 Rockies prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and cousin of the six-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award-winning Arenado, missed Major League Spring Training with a hamate injury that required surgery. But he recovered before the start of the season and was 3-for-7 with a home run and two doubles in Albuquerque¡¯s first two games.
Fuentes, who plays first base and third base, earned the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player award last year by batting .327 with a .354 on-base percentage and .517 slugging percentage, 14 home runs, 39 doubles, 12 triples and 95 RBIs.
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Foster is ¡®ultimate believer¡¯ in Anderson
Lefty Tyler Anderson is 1-8 since last Aug. 4 -- a 12-start (regular season) period that has seen his hard-hit rate balloon from 28 percent last season before Aug. 4 to 37.6 percent since. He also has given up a .390 batting average on at-bats ending with a four-seam fastball and .400 on at-bats ending with a cutter during this rough period.
Pitching coach Steve Foster, however, said he trusts Anderson to improve his pitch location, which is a key.
¡°I¡¯m an ultimate believer in the guy because of his studious, principled, disciplined ways and preparation,¡± Foster said. ¡°He¡¯s that way with his body. He¡¯s that way with his mind. I believe that early struggles aren¡¯t always the worst thing. Sometimes, they help us learn about ourselves.
¡°To me, when he¡¯s great, he uses his fastball more. When he¡¯s great, he has great fastball command. It hasn¡¯t been there just yet. Those are things we¡¯re working on currently.¡±
Awards night
Arenado received his sixth National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award in as many seasons before Saturday night¡¯s game. Louisville Silver Slugger Awards were presented to Arenado; pitcher Germán Márquez, who celebrated a new five-year contract; and shortstop Trevor Story.
Injury updates
? Righty Antonio Senzatela (infected right heel blister) made his first Minor League rehab start for Albuquerque on Saturday night, against Salt Lake City.
? Lefty reliever Chris Rusin (midback strain) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and likely will throw another before beginning a rehab assignment, manager Bud Black said.