Blackmon (back) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Guardians, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon sat for two weeks due to back stiffness, but he appeared in a minor-league game Friday and will play with the big-league club just one day later. It looks as though he'll be good to go for Opening Day, though the 36-year-old may require more off days than normal early on to ease him into the season.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Playing in minor-league game
Rotowire
Blackmon (back) will get at-bats in a minor-league game Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon has dealt with a back issue for the last two weeks but it doesn't seem to be a major concern. The veteran figures to try to get into another Cactus League game or two before camp breaks and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Should be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Blackmon (back) will take part in batting practice before Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon has been out of the lineup for the Rockies while dealing with stiffness in his back. The veteran outfielder told Harding the most important thing is that he doesn't take any backwards steps, and there's no reason for him to be rushed into the lineup during exhibition play. Most importantly, Blackmon believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, and there's a good chance that happens if there are no setbacks.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Ruled out through weekend
Rotowire
Blackmon (back) will not return to the Rockies' lineup before the end of the weekend, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.
Blackmon has already missed a week of action with back soreness and won't return for at least a few more days. There's been no indication that his readiness for Opening Day could be in doubt, so a return at some point next week seems likely.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: No rush to return
Rotowire
Blackmon's back stiffness is improving, but he won't be rushed back into the lineup, MLB.com reports.
Blackmon left Colorado's spring training game March 10 after just one inning due to a back injury. Manager Bud Black didn't give a specific timeline for a return, though given Blackmon's veteran status it's no surprise the team isn't rushing for him to return during the exhibition schedule. To this point, there is no indication he's in danger of missing any regular-season contests.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Leaves game with back stiffness
Rotowire
Blackmon departed Friday's Cactus League contest versus the Giants with mid-back stiffness, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon played the top of the first inning on defense but was removed before he could take an at-bat. It's not clear at this point whether it's a day-to-day injury or possibly something more severe.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Making spring debut Sunday
Rotowire
Blackmon (knee) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter in Sunday's spring game against the Brewers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon ended the 2022 campaign on the injured list with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but he's ready to go early in spring training for the Rockies. The 36-year-old had a .264/.314/.419 slash line with 16 home runs and 78 RBI in 135 games last season, and he should serve as Colorado's primary designated hitter this year, which is the final season of his contract.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Staying with Rockies for 2023
Rotowire
Blackmon (knee) will pick up his $18 million player option for the 2023 season, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.
Blackmon is 36 and was worth 0.2 fWAR in 135 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury, so picking up the option was an easy call. He could retire following the 2023 season.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Done for season
Rotowire
The Rockies placed Blackmon on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
This trip to the injured list will end Blackmon's season early, and the 36-year-old veteran will finish 2022 with a .733 OPS -- his worst mark since 2012. There's no word yet on how long it might take him to recover, but he should be ready to go by the start of next season. To fill his spot on the active roster, Colorado reinstated Jose Iglesias (thumb) from the 10-day injured list.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Tallies 76th RBI
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Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI on Monday against the Giants.
Blackmon drove in his 76th run of the season with an RBI single in the first inning and also chipped in a two-out triple seven frames later. He has emerged out of a prolonged slump and is in the midst of a modest three-game hitting streak, during which he's collected six hits across 13-bats. Though Blackmon is no longer a threat on the basepaths, he has chipped in 16 homers, 59 runs scored and a .263 average across 551 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Posts steal in win
Rotowire
Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.
Blackmon has found a little more consistency at the plate, going 4-for-16 across his last four games. He's also struck out five times in that span. The steal Sunday was his fourth of the season, his most since he stole 12 bases in 2018. The 36-year-old has maintained a .259/.310/.415 slash line with 16 home runs, 75 RBI, 59 runs scored, 20 doubles and five triples in 127 contests, though he's also seen roughly one day off per week lately.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Blackmon isn't in the lineup Friday against the Cubs.
Blackmon started the last three games and went 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Connor Joe serves as the designated hitter and bats seventh.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Gets breather Saturday
Rotowire
Blackmon isn't starting Saturday against Arizona, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Blackmon has gone 0-for-13 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts over the last three games and will get a day off Saturday. C.J. Cron is serving as the designated hitter and batting third.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Drives in two
Rotowire
Blackmon went 1-for-5 with two RBI across both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Blackmon was out of the lineup for the first game of the twin bill, but he delivered a two-run single as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. During the team's eight-game road trip that concluded Sunday, Blackmon went 6-for-28 with only one extra-base hit and no counting stats excluding Sunday's effort. For the season, he owns a .267/.316/.430 line across 507 plate appearances.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Resting for early game
Rotowire
Blackmon is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Blackmon is resting for the early game with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati, but the 36-year-old will presumably check back into the starting nine for the nightcap. C.J. Cron will step in as the Rockies' designated hitter for the early game.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Retreats to bench
Rotowire
Blackmon isn't starting Saturday against the Reds.
Blackmon started the last three games but went just 1-for-11 with a double, a walk and three strikeouts. C.J. Cron will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Resting in series opener
Rotowire
Blackmon is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.
The Rockies will send two of their lefty-hitting regulars to the bench in the series opener, as Blackmon and Ryan McMahon will both take seats with southpaw Max Fried taking the hill for Atlanta. Blackmon's absence opens up room at designated hitter for C.J. Cron, while Triple-A Albuquerque call-up Michael Toglia makes his MLB debut at Cron's usual first-base spot.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Blackmon isn't starting Saturday against the Mets, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Blackmon is out of the lineup for the second time in the last four games after he went 2-for-8 with three strikeouts over the last two matchups. Randal Grichuk will start in right field and lead off Saturday.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Blackmon isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.
Blackmon is getting a breather after he went 6-for-13 with a double, three RBI and a run over the last three games. Randal Grichuk will shift to right field while Wynton Bernard starts in center.
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Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Extends hitting streak
Rotowire
Blackmon went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored in Sunday's extra-innings loss against the Giants.
Blackmon notched two singles, his first in the eighth to score Ryan McMahon to move the game to 6-4. He then recorded another base knock in the 10th, which also scored McMahon and tied the game at eight, after which he was removed for a pinch runner. Blackmon has a modest five-game hitting streak and is slashing .266/.317/.436 on the season.
