Chatwood expects to make final rehab start

WASHINGTON — Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood will start Monday for Double-A Hartford on a five-inning/75-pitch Minor League rehab assignment as he completes his recovery from his second bout with back spasms. He expects to make the following start for Colorado.

Chatwood (10-8, 3.75 ERA in 22 starts) first went to the 15-day disabled list after a June 18 start, and he returned for 12 starts before going back to the DL on Aug. 16. He believes he is fully recovered this time.

“This is the first time I haven’t really had back pain in a while, so I’ve just got to keep that going,” Chatwood said Sunday.

Chatwood was 4-5 with a 4.81 ERA in the dozen starts between injuries, but when the pain was at its worst, he was limited to arm-side fastballs — inside to right-handed batters, outside to lefties — because he couldn’t achieve the necessary extension to throw a credible changeup or breaking balls to the other side.

“Breaking …

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