The Rockies have placed starting 1B Todd Helton on the 15-day disabled list with back soreness. Helton has not looked like himself at the plate this season. He has played in 69 games for the Rockies this season and he is 61 of 248 (.246 avg, .646 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 2 homers and 16 RBIs. The Rockies have recalled 29-year old righty swinging 1B Brad Eldred to replace Helton on the roster. Eldred has played in 71 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 71 of 266 (.267 avg, .898 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 22 homers and 64 RBIs. Eldred has played in 74 games in his major league career and he is 47 of 236 (.199 avg, .670 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 14 homers and 30 RBIs. But he has some holes in his swing as he has whiffed 93 times in the majors. Eldred and Jason Giambi could platoon at 1B while Helton is out of action.

The Rockies have lost 25-year old righty swinging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for the next 6-8 weeks due to a broken left wrist. Tulowitzki has played in 62 games for the Rockies this season and he is 72 of 235 (.306 avg, .877 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 9 homers, 34 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Clint Barmes will slide over from 2B to replace Tulo at SS. Barmes has played in 59 games for the Rockies this year and he is 43 of 192 (.224 avg, .650 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 4 homers and 31 RBIs. Barmes is a good defensive SS but the Rockies will miss Tulowitzki’s bat as Jonathan Herrera will be taking over at 2B for now. Herrera has played in 11 games for the Rockies so far this season and he is 3 for 23 (.130 avg, .297 OPS) with 2 runs scored. The Rockies might need to look outside the organization for a 2B or SS if Herrera isn’t up to the challenge.

The Rockies have placed 28-year old righty reliever Matt Daley on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Daley has pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Rockies this season and he is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. The Rockies have called up 31-year old righty reliever Juan Rincon to replace Daley in the pen. He has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 2-2 with 7 saves, a 7.25 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. He has also pitched in 1 game with the Rockies this year going 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP.

The Rockies have placed IF/OF Eric Young on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right tibia. Young will miss at the very least one month of action for the Rockies. Young has played in 13 games for the Rockies this season and he is 8 of 32 (.250 avg, .695 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Rockies will miss Young’s speed and versatility while he is out of action.

The Rockies have placed lefty reliever Franklin Morales on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder weakness. Morales has pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Rockies this season and he is 0-3 with 3 saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Morales would have been replaced as the closer even if he wasn’t hurt because he was having a very hard time throwing strikes. Morales has walked 8 batters in only 11 innings for the Rockies and that’s way too many for a closer. 27-year old righty Manny Corpas will take over as the Rockies’ closer until Morales returns to action. Corpas has pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rockies this season and he is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He has only given up 13 hits in 22 2/3 innings this season showing that his stuff is sharp right now. I think he will do a good job until Huston Street is ready to come off the D.L.