Rockies lose Jaden Hill to IL with shoulder issue

Senzaltela entered with the Rockies down 6-5 to start the seventh and exited with the score 10-5. It seems like the Rockies really missed the boat by not making him the first veteran traded this season. He’s given up 11 earned runs in his last 12 innings, taking his ERA from 1.13 to 3.07.

Antonio Senzatela got the win, his eighth, after throwing hitless seventh and eighth innings. Herget was then handed a two-run lead and maintained it without incident. It’s the 11th career save for Herget, who returned from a shoulder impingement last week. His other nine all came with the Angels in 2022. He’s sporting a 4.42 ERA in 18 1/3 innings this season.

Hill came on with the Rockies clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth inning with two men on and one out. He hit the first batter he faced to load the bases before recording a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Hill then induced a ground ball to third base from speedy outfielder Jake Mangum and Billy Cook, who was the runner on second, was called out for baserunners interference. Given Mangum’s speed, the play was far from routine for third baseman Kyle Karros, but the Rockies were bailed out when Cook made contact with Karros’ glove. The controversial call ended the game, netting Hill his second save. The Rockies bullpen is still one to avoid in fantasy.

Hill’s first save came in his 30th appearance of 2026 and 67th appearance since debuting with the Rockies in 2024. The 26-year-old has a 4.97 ERA and a 27/17 K/BB in 25 1/3 innings this year. He’s the seventh Rockies reliever to pick up a save this year. Victor Vodnik still leads the team with four.

Vodnik rejoins Colorado’s bullpen following a three-week absence due to nerve inflammation in his right elbow. The 26-year-old has allowed 16 earned runs over 18 innings of work this season. He’ll operate in low-leverage spots for the Rockies initially until he earns his way back in manager Warren Schaeffer’s metaphorical trust tree.

Ian Happ hit the homer that led to Senzatela’s third blown save. The former starter is now 6-0, however. That’s more victories than he had in 28 starts in 2021 (4-10), 19 starts in 2022 (3-7) or in 28 starts from 2023-25 (4-17).

Vodnik has been sidelined since May 20th with right ulnar nerve inflammation. He had a strong month of April, but struggled at the beginning of May as he pitched through the injury. He could work himself back into the late innings when he returns to the Rockies’ bullpen.

Senzatela, coming off four days’ rest, took the mound in the eighth with a two-run lead. He struck out the side on 15 pitches and returned for the ninth to attempt a two-inning save. Things got away from Senzatela as the Brewers brought four runs home on four hits and an error. He’d leave with two outs in the inning with his second blown save. The 31-year-old right-hander remains the only reliever worth rostering in Colorado, and only in deeper leagues, with a 1.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 30/10 K/BB ratio across 36 1/3 innings.

After being a well below-average starting pitcher, Senzatela moved to the bullpen this year and has been lights out, posting a 1.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 26/10 K/BB ratio in 34 2/3 innings. Now, the lack of strikeouts remains a bit of a concern, but Senzatela has proven he can provide valuable length out of the bullpen and will be a free agent at the end of the season, so the Rockies will almost assuredly move him to a contender looking to shore up their bullpen.

Senzatela came in with an 8-6 lead, two on and one out in the eighth and gave up a game-tying triple to Jorge Soler. Still, he preserved the tie from there and then worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth after the Rockies regained the lead in the top of the inning. Senzatela is 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA. The Rockies probably shouldn’t risk waiting until the trade deadline to deal him.