Chatwood struggling to command fastball

DENVER — Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood’s struggles on Tuesday — when he gave up seven runs and eight hits in three innings of a 10-1 loss to the Rays — have a simple explanation, manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday.

“It’s getting back to commanding the fastball. Everything begins with that, for most pitchers,” Weiss said. “He was scattering his fastball, spraying it around a little bit last night, a lot of pitches up.”

In his last two starts, home losses to the Phillies and the Rays, Chatwood (8-6, 3.83 ERA) has given up 11 earned runs and 16 hits in eight total innings. Those starts came after he missed three starts with a back strain, and they raise questions:

• Even though the Rockies want to be careful with his innings load, because he missed the better part of two seasons due to Tommy John right elbow surgery, did he lose his groove?

• Has the difference between performance at home (3-6, 6.26 ERA) and road (5-0, 1.30 …

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