Austin

Gomber

Gomber was able to throw 3 2/3 innings in a Cactus League game on Saturday, so his return should be right around the corner. Bradley Blalock might get one turn in his place the first time a fifth starter is needed.

Gomber is still expected to go on the injured list with shoulder soreness, but he might miss only one turn. The outing today was his first since Feb. 25.

Gomber is dealing with soreness in his left shoulder, and hasn’t been able to pitch since the start of March. Chase Dollander would be the most exciting potential replacement from a fantasy perspective, but Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports Dollander is likely to begin the season in Triple-A. Gomber is expected back relatively soon, but he’s not someone you ideally want on a fantasy roster no matter when he returns.

The 31-year-old hurler asked that his outing be skipped after experiencing shoulder soreness following his last throwing session. Gomber also experienced a significant drop in velocity during his first spring outing on Tuesday. As of now, there’s no clear timeline for when he may resume throwing, but Gomber noted that the goal is for him to be healthy for the duration of the season — even if he isn’t ready in time for Opening Day.

With his velocity down about three mph across the board, Gomber was holding something back today, we hope. Of course, it’s not necessary to be in top form against the White Sox. Gomber got his three strikeouts without ever throwing a pitch harder than 89.2 mph.

The 31-year-old southpaw made 30 starts for the Rockies during the 2024 season, compiling a 4.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 116/38 K/BB ratio over 165 innings. He also served up a league-leading 30 home runs. It’s good practice from a fantasy perspective to simply ignore all Rockies’ starting pitchers and to never stream them during two start weeks unless you want to get Gombered.

After a clean first inning, Gomber allowed a run to score in each of the following four frames. The Cardinals plated a run on a single and a double in the second inning. A triple and sacrifice fly brought another run in to score in the third. Three hits in the fourth brought a third run in. And one more run would come across in the fifth on a double and sacrifice fly. Gomber’s day would be done after five frames at 80 pitches. The 30-year-old right-hander ends the season with a 4.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 116/38 K/BB ratio across 165 innings.

Gomber, who had completed six innings in six straight starts, suffered his earliest exit of the year today. He took the loss to fall to 5-11 with a 4.67 ERA. His final start will come at home against the Cardinals next week.

Gomber left with a two-run lead in the quality start, but the Rockies pen blew that before Colorado ultimately won the game. It was Gomber’s 12th quality start, which doesn’t count the three times he pitched at least six runs and allowed four runs or fewer in Coors Field. If there were any flexibility when it came to quality starts, those would count. He’ll make his next start at home against the Diamondbacks.

Gomber will face the Cubs tonight in his first start in eight days.