Colorado Rockies star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has missed several games with a sore throat, and although he was available to pinch hit during Monday's 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, he isn't a lock to make the starting lineup on Tuesday. Gonzalez has been suffering through strep-like symptoms and is on antibiotics, and he told Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he is feeling better and wants to play on Tuesday:
"I want to be in there. I am feeling a lot better," Gonzalez told The Post. "It depends on how I feel when I wake up. But I want to play."
Gonzalez admitted he lost weight and was weak from his illness. At one point over the weekend, his fever approached 105 degrees. Antibiotics have helped, but his strength remains an issue.
However, Rockies manager Jim Tracy may want to play it safe with his middle-of-the-order stud, as he told Renck "it might be another day." Tyler Colvin started in place of Gonzalez on Monday.
For more on these teams, visit Rockies blog Purple Row and Padres blog Gaslamp Ball. For more news and notes around the league, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.