Rookie Smith aims for first win in Marlins-Rockies matchup (Apr 28, 2018)
MIAMI -- Caleb Smith will have to wait a little longer to try again for his first major-league win.
Smith, a Miami Marlins rookie left-hander, is 0-4 with a 6.69 ERA during his brief career and 0-3 this season with a 5.82 ERA. He will face the visiting Colorado Rockies on Sunday afternoon.
He was originally expected to face the Rockies on Saturday night but bumped because of the return from the disabled list of Wei-Yin Chen, who overcame elbow issues during the past year to beat the Rockies 4-1 on Saturday in his first start since May 1, 2017.
Smith has looked comfortable at Marlins Park, striking out 15 in 10 1/3 innings with a 3.48 ERA and two no-decisions. In his most recent start -- last Sunday at Milwaukee -- Smith allowed two runs in seven innings, striking out 10 batters without allowing a walk.
"We've been happy with him," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told mlb.com about Smith. "It's been some good and some bad. He's proven himself at Triple-A, and he deserves the opportunity to see what he can become as a major-league starter."
The Marlins made numerous moves in the past few days, bumping Trevor Richards, who was sent to the minors, and Dillon Peters from the rotation. Peters is in the bullpen for now but could go to Triple-A if veteran Dan Straily is activated from the disabled list Monday as expected.
In addition, Marlins first baseman Justin Bour, who missed Saturday's game with back spasms, is listed as day-to-day.
Meanwhile, the Rockies are expected to start right-hander Chad Bettis (3-0), who leads Colorado's rotation with a 2.40 ERA.
In his most recent start, Bettis allowed four runs in the first inning against San Padres on Monday. But he shut down the Padres after that and salvaged the start in a no-decision.
Before that, Bettis allowed a combined total of four runs in four starts.
Bettis, a Rockies second-round pick out of Texas Tech in 2010, will start three days after his 29th birthday. Since making his major-league debut in 2013, he's 28-23 with a 4.84 ERA but off to what could be the start of a career year.
Bettis is 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA in two appearances (one start) versus Miami. but hasn't faced the Marlins since 2016.
Meanwhile, the Rockies could get outfielder Carlos Gonzalez back Sunday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. He has been out since April 19 with a right hamstring injury.
Rockies manager Bud Black downplayed that possibility.
"That's probably optimistic," Black said. "But we're encouraged. It shouldn't be too much longer. It could be in the next few days."
Black also gave good reports on three other injured Rockies: second baseman DJ LeMahieu and starting pitchers Kyle Freeland and Tyler Anderson.
LeMahieu injured a hamstring Friday and missed Saturday's start, but Black said his second baseman is "a little better than we hoped" in terms of his status.
Freeland (heel) and Anderson (heartbeat) are not expected to miss a start, which is huge news for the Rockies.
