The Baby Bull is ready to "hit some bombs," he said before the game.
The Rockies activated catcher Wilin Rosario from the 15-day disabled list prior to their series finale against the Padres on Sunday. The Rockies could use his bat in the lineup; although Rosario struggled to a .239/.274/.398 line before hitting the DL on May 3, Jordan Pacheco and Michael McKenry have been considerably worse at the plate since that point.
Rosario says he at least feels well enough to return to action, though illness caused him to drop nine pounds.
"I feel pretty good. I feel like I can play. I don't think I [am] 100 percent, but I feel better than how I was before," Rosario said before the game.
The illness that corralled The Bull for a few weeks is the same thing that landed Josh Rutledge on the DL. Rutledge was activated and optioned earlier in the week, and Rosario provided some insight as to why that might have happened.
"Josh is still a little bit skinny," said Rosario. That explains the Rockies' decision to send him to the minors and keep Charlie Culberson on the big league roster, though it's likely going to be a short-term move while Rutledge regains his strength.
To make room for Rosario, the Rockies optioned Michael McKenry to Triple-A Colorado Springs. McKenry hung around and took some cuts with the team before the game, meaning he'll likely join the Sky Sox -- who play at 1:35 p.m. MT today -- on Monday.
Juan Nicasio will be on the mound for Colorado opposite San Diego's Donn Roach. Nicasio owns a 3.77 ERA in eight starts and has survived pretty well to this point as a result of his ability to limit walks. He's issuing free passes at a rate of 2.8 per nine innings, which is the second-best mark of his big league career. That said, Nicasio hasn't been quite as good at pitching to contact at Coors Field, though that certainly isn't reflected in his 3.10 ERA in home games.
Roach is starting for the Padres in place of Andrew Cashner, who landed on the 15-day DL on Saturday with elbow soreness. Roach is making his first start of the season for San Diego after posting a 2.57 ERA in 12 relief appearances. Perhaps more interesting is that the 24-year-old right-hander will be batting in the No. 8 spot for the Padres.