Seth

Halvorsen

Schaeffer added that he won’t require surgery. It’s an extremely encouraging update and it sounds like Halvorsen isn’t facing a long-term absence, which is a relief after he hit the injured list over the weekend with a right elbow strain. The 25-year-old closer figures to make it back to Colorado’s bullpen at some point in the next few weeks.

There haven’t been a ton of save chances this season for the Rockies, but Halvorsen has been their primary closing option. The 25-year-old left Saturday’s relief appearance with an apparent elbow injury and figures to be facing an extended absence. No word on the severity yet, but there’s a strong possibility his season is over. We’re speculating that Victor Vodnik would be next in line for saves in Colorado since he does have some closing experience.

“It doesn’t look good,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters after the game. Halvorsen has been operating as the closer for the Rockies for the majority of the summer, and it’s likely Colorado will go with a committee approach — assuming Halvorsen is going to miss significant time, of course.

Halvorsen exited a non-save chance in the ninth inning with trainers. The right-hander will be evaluated, and an update on his status should be available before Sunday’s finale against the Bucs.

Halvorsen was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning and managed to hang on, despite allowing an RBI single to Nolan Jones with two outs in the frame. It was his third save since the All-Star break.

Halvorsen blew Baltimore away in just 11 pitches with his 100 mph heat. Jackson Holliday did hit a two-out fly ball that looked like it was going to tie this game, but it died just in front of ‘Mount Walltimore’ in left field. Halvorsen’s name has recently come up in trade discussions and he could be an interesting name to watch as a high-leverage reliever if a trade comes to fruition.

Halvorsen entered with a two-run lead and got Matt Wallner on a foul out to third and struck out Byron Buxton to open the ninth inning. He then allowed a two-out single to Ryan Jeffers that brought the tying run to the dish before retiring Willi Castro on strikes to end it. The 25-year-old hurler has now made good on nine of his first 12 save chances on the season while registering a 5.15 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 34/17 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings on the season.

Ouch. The Rockies have Thursday off and obviously don’t generate a lot of save chances, so they were just trying to get their primary closer some work. Halvorsen previously gave up four runs on May 19 to raise his ERA to 5.30. He’d since posted a 2.65 ERA over 17 appearances, yet tonight undid all that and now his ERA is right back up to 5.30.

Halvorsen’s save was his eighth of the season. He continues to be the top closing option for the Rockies despite Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley also getting save opportunities. It’s unlikely that a trade would improve Halvorsen’s trade prospects much at all as he’s unlikely to be the top closing option on a contending team.

First, Havlorsen got the final out of the eighth, stranding two runners after replacing Victor Vodnik. That left him with a two-run cushion in the ninth, and he needed it, since he gave up three hits. It’s just the third time Havlorsen has been scored upon since the beginning of June. He’s the clear favorite for saves in Colorado right now, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll get every opportunity the team generates.