Bard said Thursday that he's starting the year on the 15-day IL due to anxiety, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.
Bard has a history of the yips -- it's partly why he didn't appear in a game at the MLB level between 2014-2019 -- and he said he's decided to be open and honest about his mental struggles. The 37-year-old right-hander had been set to operate as the Rockies' locked-in closer in 2023 after totaling 34 saves for the club last season. Dinelson Lamet, Pierce Johnson, and Brad Hand could all factor into the ninth-inning mix during Bard's absence.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Goes on IL due to anxiety
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Bard said Thursday that he's starting the year on the 15-day IL because of anxiety, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.
Bard has a history of the yips -- it's partly why he didn't appear in a game at the MLB level between 2014-2019 -- and he said he's decided to be open and honest about his mental struggles. The 37-year-old right-hander had been set to operate as the Rockies' locked-in closer in 2023 after totaling 34 saves for the club last season. Dinelson Lamet, Pierce Johnson, Brad Hand and Brent Suter could all factor into the ninth-inning mix in Bard's absence.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Lands on 15-day IL
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Bard (undisclosed) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.
There's no word yet on the exact nature of the injury, but Bard struggled badly with his command in both the Cactus League and World Baseball Classic this spring. Maybe it's time for Dinelson Lamet to get a shot in the closer role for the Rockies. Piece Johnson, Brad Hand and Brent Suter are among the other options.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Gets vote of confidence
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Manager Bud Black said Monday he is not concerned with Bard's struggles during the World Baseball Classic, Kyle Newman of the Denver Post reports.
Bard allowed eight earned runs across only 1.2 innings while pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. His inability to find the strike zone was particularly troubling -- he surrendered four free passes -- given his history of a high walk rate during his big-league career. Despite those concerns, Bard will enter the season as the Rockies' closer, though the team did bolster its bullpen with offseason additions such as Brad Hand and Pierce Johnson.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Back in action Saturday
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Bard (thumb) gave up a solo home run and struck out a batter during an inning of relief Saturday in the Rockies' 7-1 Cactus League win over the Mariners.
Jake Scheiner's long ball prevented the Rockies from claiming a shutout, but the team was likely just happy to have their presumptive closer back in action after he suffered a small cut on his right thumb during his prior appearance three days earlier. Assuming Bard experienced no setbacks with the thumb coming out of the relief outing, he'll likely join the American team later this week in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Exits with thumb laceration
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Bard was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League appearance against the Royals due to a small cut on his right thumb, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Bard struggled in the appearance, walking a pair while recording just one out. It doesn't sound like the laceration on his thumb is much of a concern, though. "It's early. He's still getting into shape. He's gotta get in shape a little bit sooner for the WBC. But he'll be fine," manager Bud Black said. Bard is due to leave to pitch for Team USA in the WBC in about a week and Black surely would like his closer to get in another Cactus League appearance or two before then.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Locks down 34th save
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Bard saved Tuesday's 5-2 win against the Dodgers, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning without a strikeout.
Bard made quick work of the Dodgers in the ninth inning, needing just six pitches to secure his second save in three days against Los Angeles. The 37-year-old threw 35 pitches Sunday, so Tuesday's punctual outing was necessary and could keep him in the mix to pitch again during Wednesday's season finale. Bard's scoreless inning streak is now at 15, with his last earned run coming Aug. 26.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Whiffs six in two-inning save
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Bard saved Sunday's 4-1 win against the Dodgers, allowing two hits while striking out six in two scoreless innings.
Bard entered a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth and struck out three after the first two batters reached on a hit and error. Colorado added two runs in the top of the ninth, and manager Bud Black opted to stick with the veteran for the bottom of the frame, when Bard struck out three more while permitting a one-out Justin Turner single. In total, Bard fired 27 of 35 pitches for strikes with eight of the swinging variety. The scoreless outing extends Bard's streak to 14 innings without an earned run, lowering his ERA and WHIP to 1.82 and 0.99.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Picks up sixth win
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Bard (6-4) struck out two and walked one across two scoreless innings to earn the win Friday against the Padres.
Bard entered the game with the score knotted at two in the ninth inning, and he stayed in the game to pitch a scoreless 10th frame. He's turned in 10 consecutive scoreless appearances, during which he's maintained a 12:3 K:BB while racking up six saves and three wins. Bard now has a 1.88 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the season.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Clean inning for save
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Bard struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.
Bard extended his scoreless streak to five innings, and he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 10 frames. He needed 15 pitches (12 strikes) to set down the side in order Sunday. Bard continues to impress in 2022 with a 1.95 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 61:24 K:BB while converting 32 of 35 save chances across 55.1 innings.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Picks up another save
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Bard picked up the save in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Cubs. He did not allow a run on one hit while striking out one over one inning.
Bard has not allowed an earned run over nine innings in his last eight outings and has surrendered just three hits during that span. The righty's 1.99 ERA over 54.1 innings this season is his best since he posted a 1.93 ERA over 74.2 innings in 2010.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Claims 30th save
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Bard earned a save versus the White Sox on Wednesday, striking out three batters over a perfect inning in the 3-0 win.
Bard was called upon with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, getting a three batters he faced to strike out swinging. The save was his 30th of the season, and he has now converted five straight opportunities. Overall, Bard is 30-for-33 on save chances and owns a 2.03 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 58 punchouts over 53.1 frames in 52 appearances this year.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Notches 29th save
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Bard earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Bard entered in the ninth with Colorado up by three runs and needed 16 pitches to retire Arizona in order. The veteran is up to 29 saves on the campaign, tied with Edwin Diaz for seventh-most in MLB. Bard faded in the second half last season but has been solid since the All-Star break this year, going 9-for-10 in save chances while posting a 2.16 ERA and 13:6 K:BB over 16.2 innings.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Earns fifth win
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Bard (5-4) pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the win Friday against the Diamondbacks.
Bard entered the game with the score tied in the ninth inning and didn't allow a baserunner. Elias Diaz hit a three-run home run to give the Rockies a victory in the bottom of the frame, handing Bard his fifth win of the season. Bard has turned in five consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, and he's tallied two wins and two saves in that span. For the season, Bard has maintained a 2.10 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 54:24 K:BB across 51.1 innings.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Records another save
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Bard picked up the save in a perfect inning Tuesday against Atlanta. He struck out two.
The Rockies' closer made quick work of the top of the Atlanta lineup, setting down Dansby Swanson, Michael Harris and Austin Riley in order to record his 28th save of the season. The save was his sixth this month and second in as many games for Colorado. While his team has struggled to just 56 wins on the campaign, Bard has made the most of his chances as he has recorded the save in half of those games and has been a big reason why the Rockies are 20-21 in one-run games.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Notches 27th save
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Bard struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save Sunday against the Mets. He allowed one hit and did not walk a batter.
Bard worked around a Pete Alonso single to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn his 27th save on the season. The 37-year-old is now seventh in the majors in saves and well over the 20 he recorded in 2021. He now owns a strong 2.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP on the campaign.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Bounces back for 26th save
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Bard gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning of work to earn the save in a 7-6 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday. He struck out one batter.
Bard bounced back after giving up a run to blow the save in his last appearance against the Giants on Sunday. This time, he helped the Rockies hang on to a one-run lead with a clean ninth-inning appearance. Overall, Bard has been excellent this season and boasts a 2.22 ERA to go along with 26 saves, three wins and 51 strikeouts over 44.2 innings pitched.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Blows third save
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Bard blew the save during Saturday's 4-3 win against the Giants, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout in the ninth inning.
Bard came on for the save and retired the first two Giants before surrendering a single followed by a Brandon Crawford double to tie the game. The blown save is the 37-year-old's first since May 15 and first poor mark since a loss July 6, snapping a stretch of allowing two runs over 12 innings. Bard possesses a 2.27 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 50 strikeouts in 43.2 innings across 43 appearances.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Strikes out side for save
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Bard pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one walk and three strikeouts to earn the save in a 7-4 win over the Giants on Friday.
Bard racked up three more punchouts in a dominant inning of work to pick up his 25th save of 2022. The 37-year-old right hander is in the midst of his best season since 2010 and has the fifth-most saves in the National League. Even though Bard did not pitch in the majors between 2014 and 2019, he has redefined his career this season with an xERA/xwOBA in the 92nd percentile of MLB pitchers.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Records 24th save
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Bard picked up the save Thursday after allowing a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning of an 8-6 victory over St. Louis.
Bard loaded the bases with one out and got out of the jam by retiring Paul Goldschmidt on a force out and punching out Nolan Arenado after running the count full. Bard is 24-for-26 in save opportunities this season and has converted 15 straight chances. Opponents are hitting just .166 against him and he's managed to allow only three homers in 41.2 innings.
