Rockies bullpen takes a hit when Corpas reports to stadium with swollen elbow

Corpas sent for MRI on sore right elbow

DENVER — Colorado Rockies setup man Manny Corpas arrived at Coors Field with a swollen right elbow and an MRI revealed a floating bone chip.

Manager Jim Tracy said Friday that Corpas saw team orthopedist Thomas Noonan and received a cortisone shot. The plan is to let him rest 48 hours and see if he can return to the mound. If not, a trip to the disabled list might be necessary.

“I don’t want to go on the DL, but only God knows if I will,” Corpas said after the Rockies’ 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. “I’m hoping this rest will work. It’s already less swelled up than it was. This morning it was really (puffy).”

Corpas said he felt no pain Thursday after throwing a scoreless inning against Tampa Bay, but awoke with his elbow swollen and sore.

Tracy said the good news was that the bone fragment wasn’t lodged in the joint, making the club hopeful a couple of days of rest would calm the irritation and allow him to return to the bullpen.

Corpas, who threw a scoreless eighth inning in each of his past two games, leads the team with 33 appearances. Until he returns, the Rockies will use left-hander Alan Embree or right-hander Matt Daley to set up closer Huston Street.

Colorado lost setup man Taylor Buchholz during spring training to an elbow injury, and he underwent Tommy John surgery this week that will sideline him at least a year.