Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Strong September continues
Rotowire
Montero went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Friday against the Twins.
Montero made his lone hit of the day count, and he now has three home runs in his last four games. His strong hitting has extended further, as he's gone deep five times across 25 games in September. Importantly, he's also shown improved plate discipline by maintaining a 26.7 percent strikeout rate and 6.9 percent walk rate in that same span.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Smacks homer in three-hit game
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Montero went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double, a walk and four total runs scored in Thursday's 14-5 win over the Dodgers.
This was arguably Montero's base game of the year from a fantasy perspective. He's logged six three-hit efforts, four of which have come since Aug. 15. The infielder is at a .247/.294/.417 slash line with nine homers, 37 RBI, 37 runs scored, 15 doubles and no stolen bases through 82 contests overall.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: On bench Saturday
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Montero is out of the lineup Saturday versus the Cubs.
Montero will be on the bench for the second time since Wednesday. Prior to that, the 25-year-old had started in 18 consecutive games in which he slashed .306/.389/.484. However, after Friday's game, the infielder is 1-for-12 in the last three. Hunter Goodman will take his place in the lineup Saturday.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Montero is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Diego, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
It's the first day off this month for Montero, who is 3-for-17 with 11 strikeouts over his last four contests. Kris Bryant is handling first base Wednesday.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Showing improvement
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Montero went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk Saturday against the Giants.
Montero has taken over as Colorado's primary first baseman following the demotion of Michael Toglia, and he's started seven of eight games since Sept. 1. In that span, he's collected eight hits across 24 at-bats and more importantly, has dropped his strikeout rate to 20.7 percent. Hunter Goodman could be a threat to Montero's playing time, but to this point, the Rockies have used Goodman primarily as an outfielder.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Draws third straight start
Rotowire
Montero will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Montero will pick up his third consecutive start Sunday, this time facing off against right-hander Kevin Gausman after he had previously re-entered the lineup versus a pair of southpaws to begin the series with Toronto. Following his call-up from Triple-A Albuquerque last weekend, Hunter Goodman had displaced Montero as the team's everyday first baseman, but manager Bud Black has now deployed Goodman at designated hitter and in right field for the rookie's last two starts. With Michael Toglia now sitting out for a third straight game and Goodman getting looks elsewhere, Montero looks like he'll settle back in as the Rockies' primary first baseman. Montero enters Sunday's contest with a .417/.488/.694 slash line over his past 11 contests.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Gets back into lineup
Rotowire
Montero went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored Friday against the Blue Jays.
Montero had been the odd man out in the competition with Hunter Goodman for playing time at first base, sitting out the prior five games. However, he got the start Friday and delivered a two-run homer in the third inning. Montero has displayed an all-or-nothing skillset, as he has three homers in his last 13 games but has struck out at a 32.6 percent clip as well.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Sitting in third straight
Rotowire
Montero is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Montero is on the bench for the third consecutive game. He looks like he could be the odd man out of the lineup for the time being while the Rockies get a look at rookie Hunter Goodman in an everyday role at first base.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: On bench again Sunday
Rotowire
Montero is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Despite producing a 1.024 OPS over his last nine games, Montero finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. The Rockies will give Triple-A Albuquerque call-up Hunter Goodman the starting nod at first base in his MLB debut Sunday, but the team could find room for both Goodman and Montero in the lineup by deploying the other at designated hitter. Goodman also has the ability to play the corner outfield and could end up poaching work from Michael Toglia.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Takes seat Friday
Rotowire
Montero isn't in the Rockies' lineup Friday against the White Sox, Suzie Hunter of TheDNVR.com reports.
Montero went 4-for-11 with a homer and two runs scored during Colorado's series against the D-backs and will get a breather for Friday's opener. Michael Toglia will step in as the Rockies' first baseman and bat eighth.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Heads to bench amid struggles
Rotowire
Montero is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Montero's stretch of eight consecutive starts will come to an end Wednesday as utility man Cole Tucker replaces him in the lineup for the series finale. Though injuries to Kris Bryant (finger) and Charlie Blackmon (hand) have opened up everyday playing time for him, Montero has yet to take advantage of the opportunity. Since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on July 25, Montero is hitting .195 with three extra-base hits (one home run, two doubles) and a 46.5 percent strikeout rate in 11 games.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Reaches base three times in win
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Montero went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI in Monday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Padres.
Montero was making his third start in six games since being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque last Wednesday. Though Michael Toglia is expected to get the first opportunity to serve as the Rockies' primary first baseman following the recent trade of C.J. Cron to the Angels, Montero drew the starting nod Monday while Toglia shifted to the corner outfield as a replacement for Nolan Jones, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Toglia and Jones will have clearer paths to everyday roles moving forward, but Montero may end up settling in as the Rockies' top option at designated hitter. In addition to Cron, the Rockies also recently traded away another everyday player in Randal Grichuk, and two more lineup regulars in Charlie Blackmon (hand) and Kris Bryant (finger) remain on the injured list and are without clear target dates to return.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Out of lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Montero is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game versus Atlanta.
Montero has seen the majority of the reps at first base over the past week, but he's also failed to pick up a hit since June 9 and is slashing .069/.100/.138 over 29 at-bats in the month of June. Mike Moustakas will play first base and hit seventh with Montero out of the lineup.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: First hit since being recalled
Rotowire
Montero went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Royals.
Montero drew his second start since being recalled Monday, both of which have come at first base with a lefty on the mound. He delivered a two-RBI triple in the second inning to tally his first hit since his most recent promotion. Montero could have a spot on the roster so long as Kris Bryant (heel) and C.J. Cron (back) remain on the injured list, but he appears to be limited to a small-side platoon role.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Moves to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rockies optioned Montero to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.
Montero saw regular duty at third base after Ryan McMahon was moved to second to cover for the loss of Brendan Rodgers (shoulder). However, the Rockies have reverted back to McMahon at the hot corner of late when it became apparent Montero couldn't hack it defensively. Montero's bat has also faded lately as his playing time dwindled.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Takes a seat again Friday
Rotowire
Montero is not in the Rockies' lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.
He's now been on the bench for three of the last four games, and the one game he did start was in the designated hitter spot. Meanwhile, each of Ryan McMahon's starts during that stretch have come at third base, as it appears the Rockies might no longer be willing to put up with Montero's poor defense at the hot corner.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Montero is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Pirates.
Montero will sit for a second consecutive contest after making two errors in the field in Monday's loss to the Pirates. Ryan McMahon will take care of third base duties, while Alan Trejo covers second base.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Struggling in return to lineup
Rotowire
Montero went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Sunday against the Mariners.
Montero started at third base for the second consecutive day since returning from a three-game absence caused by a thumb injury. He collected an RBI knock in Saturday's matchup, but he has gone just 1-for-6 with three strikeouts since his return. Despite a 31.8 percent strikeout across 44 plate appearances on the season, Montero has maintained a .310/.341/.452 line.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Returns from thumb injury
Rotowire
Montero is hitting seventh and playing third base Saturday against the Mariners, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Harding missed three straight games for the Rockies while dealing with a sore thumb. The infielder will man the hot corner against Seattle, so Alan Trejo is back on the bench.
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Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Could return Saturday
Rotowire
Montero (thumb) could return to action Saturday against the Mariners, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
He is missing a third straight game with a sore thumb but has been doing full pregame on-field activities, so Montero's return is imminent. Alan Trejo is starting at third base Friday.
