The Rockies reinstated Vodnik (biceps) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Vodnik made his lone rehab appearance with Double-A Hartford on Friday, when he struck out two batters over one inning. He will rejoin the Colorado bullpen for Sunday's series finale against the Brewers, though it's unclear if Vodnik will immediately reclaim the closer's role or if he'll instead get eased into higher-leverage situations. Across 55 major-league appearances this season, Vodnik has recorded nine saves and six holds with a 4.04 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 64.2 innings.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Strikes out two in rehab outing
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Vodnik (bicep) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford on Friday and struck out two batters over one inning.
Vodnik has been on the injured list since Aug. 21 with right bicep inflammation, but he was cleared to embark on the rehab assignment after he completed a bullpen session earlier this week without issue. Prior to Vodnik joining up with Hartford, manager Bud Black told MLB.com that the right-hander "could return quickly" if his rehab assignment goes well. Considering how well Vodnik pitched Friday, it wouldn't be surprising if he was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee after getting a day of rest Saturday.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Nearing return
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Vodnik (biceps) has an "aggressive" side session scheduled for Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Vodnik threw for the first time since landing on the injured list Saturday and should be throwing at full strength Tuesday. Depending on how that session goes, Vodnik could either be activated or be sent on a brief rehab assignment.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Throws off mound
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Vodnik (biceps) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Vodnik was only able to throw at about 80 percent intensity, though it's still a step in the right direction, as it marks the first time he's thrown off a mound since landing on the injured list Aug. 21. The 24-year-old righty will be eligible for activation Tuesday, but the Rockies will likely look to have him face live hitters before clearing him to return.
Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Goes on IL with bicep issue
Rotowire
The Rockies placed Vodnik on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right bicep inflammation.
Dating back to the start of July, Vodnik had posted a 3.74 ERA while going 9-for-10 in save chances over 20 appearances to solidify himself as the Rockies' closer, but his shoulder injury now creates an opening at the back end of the bullpen. Tyler Kinley previously converted a save Aug. 1 and would appear to be first in line to step in at closer as a replacement for Vodnik. A clear timeline for Vodnik's return hasn't been established, but the fact that he has been diagnosed with bicep inflammation rather than a strain could make him a candidate to return from the IL once his 15 days are up.
Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Dealing with shoulder soreness
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Vodnik experienced shoulder soreness while warming up to enter Tuesday's game against the Nationals, MLB.com reports.
Vodnik was preparing to enter the game in the ninth inning with the Rockies leading 3-1 but could not pitch. After the game, manager Bud Black termed the decision as cautious and referenced Vodnik's recent workload. Angel Chivilli entered the game and earned his first career save, though Tyler Kinley had already pitched the eighth inning and would likely be the top choice for save chances if Vodnik is forced to miss additional time.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Converts ninth save
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Vodnik walked one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Padres.
Vodnik put together two scoreless outings at home versus the Padres during this series after blowing a save Tuesday in Arizona. That blown save was Vodnik's first since he took over the primary closer role for the Rockies. He's allowed five runs over 8.1 innings in August, but they've been limited to two poor appearances out of nine. For the season, Vodnik has a 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57:31 K:BB while converting nine saves, adding six holds and taking three blown saves through 64.2 innings.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Charged with blown save, loss
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Vodnik (3-3) was charged with a loss and a blown save Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Vodnik was tasked with preserving a 3-2 lead in the ninth and was unable to get the job done. He gave up a one-out triple to Corbin Carroll and followed that up with a strikeout before loading the bases on back-to-back walks. The Diamondbacks would then walk it off on a base hit from Jake McCarthy. Tuesday's loss was the second this month for Vodnik, but he's picked up eight saves since July 6, albeit with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. The Rockies don't have a lot of options in their bullpen to turn to for closing duties, so it doesn't seem Vodnik is in any sort of jeopardy of losing the job. For the season, he owns a 4.16 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57:29 K:BB in 62.2 innings.
Vodnik allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 9-8 win over Atlanta.
Vodnik erased a leadoff single with a double play and then struck out Travis d'Arnaud to make the Rockies' eighth-inning rally stand for the win. Vodnik has kept runs off the board in seven of his last eight outings, though the exception in that span was a three-run meltdown versus the Mets. He's now up to eight saves while posting a 3.92 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 56:27 K:BB through 62 innings this season.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Secures seventh save
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Vodnik picked up the save in Friday's 6-5 victory over Atlanta, working around a leadoff single to pitch a scoreless inning. He struck out one.
After allowing a leadoff single to Jarred Kelenic to open the ninth inning, Vodnik promptly retired the next three batters in a 17-pitch appearance. This outing was a welcome sight after the 24-year-old suffered a loss while coughing up three runs Wednesday against the Mets. He has now collected five of the last six Colorado saves since the All-Star break and appears to be in the driver's seat for the closer role over Tyler Kinley. Vodnik has pitched to 3.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB across 18 innings since July 1.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Earns sixth save
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Vodnik allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Mets. He did not strike out or walk a batter.
Vodnik has a save in each of the last two outings, and he's logged three of the Rockies' last four saves. This was also his fifth scoreless outing in a row, a span in which he's allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. For the season, Vodnik has six saves, six holds, a 3.64 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 53:25 K:BB through 59.1 innings. While he's not fully clear from being part of a closer committee, Vodnik appears to be a slight favorite for saves over Tyler Kinley, who earned a hold with a perfect eighth inning Tuesday.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Converts fifth save
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Vodnik walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-2 win over the Padres.
All five of Vodnik's saves this year have come since July 6. He's on a four-inning scoreless streak currently, picking up two saves with a 4:2 K:BB in that span. The right-hander has a 3.70 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 53:25 K:BB over 58.1 innings this season. He may not be a full-time closer, but Vodnik appears to be at least at the head of a committee that will likely also see high-leverage work for Tyler Kinley and Justin Lawrence.
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Rockies' Victor Vodnik: Nails down fourth save
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Vodnik picked up the save against the Angels on Wednesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.
Vodnik needed only eight pitches to run through the middle of the Angels lineup and secure his fourth save of the season, striking out Kevin Pillar with a 99 mph fastball before getting Logan O'Hoppe to ground out for the final out. The right-hander has now converted each of his last four save opportunities and has recorded at least one strikeout in 15 consecutive appearances. Vodnik also hasn't issued a walk in five straight outings.
