Righty Lyles hits DL with broken left hand

Righty Lyles hits DL with broken left hand

DENVER -- The Rockies' injury woes continued Thursday. Jordan Lyles' strong start to the season was put on hold as the right-handed pitcher was put on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left hand.

"He's going to be out a few weeks," manager Walt Weiss said before the Rockies' series finale with the D-backs. "I don't know exactly how long it is right now. It's probably one of those things where he'll have to be reevaluated every week or so."

Lyles is off to his best start in four big league seasons, posting a 5-1 record and a 3.52 ERA in 12 starts. He injured the hand making a tag on a play at the plate Wednesay night, taking a knee from Martin Prado as the D-backs third baseman slid safely into home.

"The last couple years we've had a bunch of hand injuries," Weiss said. "Freakish stuff. There isn't anything you can do to avoid some of the things that have happened as far as hand injuries."

The Rockies recalled Chris Martin to take Lyles' spot on the roster, and they are exploring possibilities for adding a pitcher to their rotation. Franklin Morales, who was just sent to the bullpen and will be replaced by rookie Eddie Butler, is one possibility.

"We've got some options to take Jordan's spot, but we really haven't made a decision," Weiss said, adding he did not expect Lyles to have to go to the 60-day DL at this point.

Martin was acquired from Boston in the deal that brought Morales back to the Rockies, and he made his big league debut earlier this season, pitching 8 2/3 innings of relief from April 25 through May 2. The right-hander posted a 4.15 ERA during the stretch, walking two and striking out eight.

"We sent him out, but he's pitching really well," Weiss said of Martin. "He didn't go out because he wasn't performing well. We were just mixing up the roster and going to more position players at the time and he was the odd man out."

The Rockies also put left-hander Boone Logan on the 15-day DL Thursday with left-elbow inflammation. The Rockies will play with a 24-man roster Thursday, and are expected to pick up Butler's contract Friday before the rookie starts against the Dodgers in his Major League debut.
