PHOENIX (AP) -The Colorado Rockies added center fielder Willy Taveras to their postseason roster but chose not to include right-hander Aaron Cook, who threw about 90 pitches in an instructional league game in Tucson on Wednesday.
Taveras has been out for almost a month with a calf injury but convinced the coaching staff he could contribute with a strong showing during Wednesday’s workout at Chase Field. He took the roster spot of left-hander Mark Redman.
The Rockies decided against adding Cook, who is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list this week. Instead, right-hander Josh Fogg, who has fared better against the Diamondbacks this season, will start Game 3 of the NL championship series against Arizona on Sunday night.
Jeff Francis will pitch Game 1 at Arizona on Thursday night and rookie right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will throw Game 2 on Friday night. Rookie right-hander Franklin Morales gets the start in Game 4.
Cook, who edged out Francis in a spirited competition for the opening-day start this season, was 8-7 with a 4.12 ERA when he was sidelined by an oblique injury Aug. 10.
Cook showed that he was healthy in a seven-inning outing Wednesday, manager Clint Hurdle said. But the Rockies chose to go with Fogg, who was 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts against Arizona this season. Cook was 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in his four starts against the D-Backs.
It’s not known whether Taveras will regain his starting job. While he could add another speedster to the top of the Rockies’ lineup, such a move also risks spoiling the offensive cohesion that sparked the Rockies’ 17-1 run.
Second baseman Kaz Matsui has been spectacular in the leadoff spot in Taveras’ place, and Ryan Spilborghs has played well in center field.
Taveras, acquired in a trade with Houston last winter, was sidelined for the last three weeks of the season and the Rockies’ sweep of Philadelphia in the first round.
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