The Rockies optioned struggling right-handed starter Jhoulys Chacin to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday afternoon, providing an opportunity to add a reliever this weekend, while mulling their options for Monday’s starter in San Diego.
Chacin, the team’s best pitcher for the first 10 weeks last season, is winless with a 7.30 ERA in five starts. He has won just three times in his last 21 outings, and his lack of command and confidence motivated the demotion.
The Rockies have two potential avenues to replace him. Drew Pomeranz, who delivered a career-best outing Wednesday, is tentatively scheduled to start Monday on normal rest. If Jeremy Guthrie (right shoulder AC joint) is deemed healthy, he will return from the disabled list for Tuesday’s game, leaving no Triple-A starter necessary.
If he can’t, Alex White is a leading candidate to pitch Tuesday since Tyler Chatwood left with triceps tightness Wednesday during a Triple-A game.
In the meantime, the Rockies are likely to bring up a reliever to shore up the bullpen. Right-hander Zach Putnam, who is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 innings for the Sky Sox, is a possibility. Putnam, called up as part of a doubleheader last week in Pittsburgh, pitched one scoreless inning against the Pirates.
White is 1-3 with a 2.92 ERA after a rugged outing Tuesday night. He was part of the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. The right-hander slumped badly last season in the big leagues, but with his right middle finger healed, he has shown better command of his sinker and slider this season.
Left-hander Christian Friedrich has pitched well for the Sky Sox — 2-1, 2.59 ERA in four starts — but he’s scheduled to start Sunday.
The Dodgers hammered Chacin on Tuesday night, teeing off for seven runs on 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. Chacin has three victories in his past 21 starts dating to last season. He’s 3-13 with a 5.14 ERA during that span.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com
