Rockies righty Jordan Lyles will miss the rest of the season after suffering an injury to his left big toe, the club announced (via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post). The digit’s medial collateral ligament and capsule require repair.
Acquired as part of the pre-2014 Dexter Fowler trade, Lyles had something of a breakout season in his first year with Colorado. An unfortunate left hand fracture caused him to miss significant time, and he was far less effective after the season’s first month, but things were pointing up on the whole.
After agreeing to a $2.48MM deal to avoid arbitration, Lyles figured as one of the Rockies’ best starters. The results have not been there, as his ERA sits at a somewhat disappointing 5.14 and he’s dropped back to 5.5 K/9.
But the 25-year-old has maintained his velocity and approximately 50% groundball rate. And FIP credits him with his lowest annual mark (an evaluation not shared by xFIP and SIERA, however).
It does not seem like the Rockies are going anywhere this year, with or without Lyles, but the loss of another competent arm could make a date at the auction block more likely for several veterans. In the long run, Colorado will probably not be too concerned about Lyles’ ability to bounce back, particularly since the injury isn’t to his arm.
With the Rockies having tendered a contract to TJ patient Tyler Chatwood last year, I’d expect they’ll do the same next fall with Lyles.
