In a surprising turn of events during today's matchup between the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, starting pitcher Chase Dollander was forced to exit the game early after facing just two batters in the second inning.
The young right-hander appeared to be in trouble early, surrendering a leadoff double to Endy Rodríguez and then issuing a walk to Jared Triolo. That's when Rockies athletic trainer Keith Dugger and pitching coach Warren Schaeffer made a trip to the mound, ultimately deciding to pull Dollander from the contest.
Before his departure, Dollander had thrown 28 pitches—17 for strikes—but allowed three earned runs on five hits and a walk. The damage included a two-run homer from Ryan O'Hearn in the first inning, putting the Pirates in an early lead.
Brennan Bernardino came on in relief, and with the Rockies bullpen stretched thin, recently-recalled Tanner Gordon is expected to handle the bulk of the remaining innings today.
The specific reason for Dollander's exit remains unclear at this time, leaving fans and analysts alike speculating about a possible injury or other issue. As this is a developing story, we'll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
