Fansided

Rockies place leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon on 10-day IL

By Jason Cole

DENVER, CO - MAY 30: Colorado Rockies outfielder Noel Cuevas (56) and outfielder Charlie Blackmon (19) congratulate infielder Nolan Arenado (28) following a first inning homerun during a regular season MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting San Francisco Giants on May 30, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MAY 30: Colorado Rockies outfielder Noel Cuevas (56) and outfielder Charlie Blackmon (19) congratulate infielder Nolan Arenado (28) following a first inning homerun during a regular season MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting San Francisco Giants on May 30, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Injury woes continue for Colorado, which already lost closer Wade Davis earlier. Now put starting right fielder on the injured list.

Colorado outfielder Charlie Blackmon was retroactively placed on the 10-day injured list because of a strained calf. Blackmon had missed the previous three games and, as a result, is eligible to be activated June 4.

Blackmon was initially hurt after he fouled a pitch off his leg. The injury was initially reported as a bruised calf, but it progressed to stiffness and now a strain. Blackmon is having a strong season after shifting from center field to right. He is batting .300 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games.

Blackmon, 32, is a three-time all-star and has averaged more than 31 homes runs in each of the previous three seasons as one of the top leadoff hitters in the game. He is on pace to surpass 30 home runs again this season and leads the National League with five triples. He led the league in triples in 2017.

He has been a regular in the Colorado lineup since 2014 after being a second-round pick in 2008 out of Young Harris College in Georgia. Blackmon moved to right this season as the team moved Ian Desmond to center. After putting Blackmon on the IL, the team called up outfielder Yonathan Daza from Triple-A Albuquerque to start in center against Arizona.

Outfielder Raimel Tapia took over Blackmon’s leadoff spot. Colorado entered action on Monday at 24-27 overall and 10 games out of first place in the National League West Division.