RHP Christian Bergman had to come out of Thursday night's game against the Cardinals after just 2/3 of an inning with an apparent oblique injury.

RHP Christian Bergman slipped to 0-2 after a five-inning spot start on Saturday, giving up two runs. But he tied a career high with seven strikeouts and the four hits he allowed were the second fewest in a starting effort. It was his first start since Oct. 4, 2015, at San Francisco.

RHP Christian Bergman (0-1, 12.00 ERA) will make his first start of the season Saturday after breaking Spring Training in the bullpen. He's made two relief appearances this season. Bergman was used primarily in a relief role last year along with four starts. He has never started against the Cubs but made one relief appearance on April 10, 2015.

RHP Christian Bergman, who had been announced as Thursday's starter, instead will start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The move was made when the Rockies decided to have Jorge De La Rosa start Thursday against San Francisco on regular rest. Wrigley Field will be a new experience for Bergman. "I've never been there," he said. "I missed it last year because I was rehabbing and the year before because I was rehabbing. So it's exciting." Bergman is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two relief appearances. He gave up four runs on four hits and a walk in one inning April 5 at Arizona, but pitched two scoreless innings Friday against San Diego. "Last time out, I pitched well," Bergman said. "I don't put too much emphasis on how one outing went. I look forward to the next one."

RHP Christian Bergman will start Thursday against the Giants as the Rockies use a fifth starter for the first time this season. In two relief outings, Bergman is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA, having allowed six hits and four runs in three innings. LHP Jorge De La Rosa could have started Thursday on regular rest, but he is 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA in two starts, and he labored Saturday when he threw 97 pitches in four innings against the Padres.

Bergman took a no decision Tuesday against Arizona as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.

Bergman had been pitching out of the bullpen until making a spot start last week, and he won't get stretched out by the end of the year. He threw just 76 pitches and five innings is probably about as long as he'll go if he makes another start this season. His ERA sits at 4.68.

Bergman (3-1) was battered Wednesday, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits while walking and striking out a batter apiece in a 13-7 loss to the Pirates.

Bergman pitched on short notice Wednesday, occupying the injured Jorge De La Rosa's rotation spot. Considering the assignment of taking on a potent offense at Coors Field after making just one previous start on the season, Bergman's outing went about as expected. Bergman's arm hasn't been stretched out to go deep into games; if he continues receiving starts, expect Colorado to go to the bullpen early and often.

Bergman will make a spot start Wednesday against the Pirates, the Associated Press reports.

He'll replace Jorge De La Rosa, who has been scratched due to right Achilles' tendinitis. Bergman came through for the Rockies over the weekend while working in long relief Saturday against the Padres, covering 3.1 innings of one-run ball to record the win after starter Yohan Flande was forced to exit early. Bergman will likely face some sort of pitch count in Wednesday's outing, but the expanded roster shouldn't result in any of the other bullpen arms experiencing any sort of overuse.

Bergman tossed two scoreless innings in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader loss to the Diamondbacks.

The Rockies have had a number of openings in their rotation throughout the season, but it doesn't appear Bergman has merited serious consideration for a long-term look. Just one of his 24 appearances on the year have in a starting role, with the Rockies instead using him primarily as a multi-inning reliever. He's provided a 4.11 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 50.1 innings this season, numbers that don't make him a particularly interesting commodity even in NL-only leagues.

Bergman (shoulder) was activated off the 15-day disabled list Saturday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Bergman will likely take the place of Kyle Kendrick, who was placed on the disabled list Saturday, in the Rockies' rotation. If that's indeed the case, his first start would then come Wednesday, though the official rotation order hasn't been announced.

Bergman (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. He threw two innings, giving up no runs on one hit and two walks.

The right-hander tossed 47 pitches in the outing, a rather aggressive total for a pitcher the Rockies are planning on bringing back from the disabled list in a long-relief role. Bergman may only require one more rehab appearance before the Rockies formally activate him.

Bergman (right shoulder inflammation) threw a 35-pitch simulated game Saturday, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

The Rockies have a rotation opening for Tuesday, but Bergman, who has been sidelined for the last month, isn't being viewed as a candidate to fill the vacancy. Instead, he'll begin a two-day rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque that day, covering about 45 pitches in the first outing and 60 pitches in the second. He's expected to serve in long relief for the Rockies once he's formally activated from the 15-day DL in early August.

Bergman was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday with right shoulder fatigue, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The extent of the injury is uncertain, but Bergman will be out at least through the All-Star break. He made a pair of two-inning appearances last week, his 18th and 19th appearances of the season, and allowed a run in both. Yohan Flande was recalled and will assume Bergman's long-relief role for the time being.

Bergman was recalled by the Rockies on Thursday, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

He had been working as a starter at Triple-A, and it is unclear exactly what his role will be now that he is back with the Rockies. However, he should be available out of the bullpen in the short term, even if there are plans to move him into the rotation down the road.

Manager Walt Weiss said that Bergman, who was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, will work as a starter in the minors, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

All but one of Bergman's 14 appearances this season with the Rockies have come in a relief role, where he had generally acquitted himself well prior to Thursday's demotion. Due to the number of injuries the rotation has suffered this season, however, the Rockies intend to stretch Bergman out in order to give the organization a spot-start option, or at the very least, an innings eater out of the bullpen.

Bergman was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

With LaTroy Hawkins and Corey Dickerson both coming off the DL on Thursday, the Rockies needed to clear a pair of spots on the roster, so Bergman and outfielder/first baseman Kyle Parker will be sent to Triple-A. Bergman has made 14 appearances for the Rockies this season, posting a 4.18 ERA and 1.423 WHIP in 32.1 cumulative innings.

Bergman was lit up for four runs on five hits in his two innings out of the bullpen Friday against the Giants.

Bergman has been working in long relief for the bulk of the season and is probably next in line for a rotation spot should an opening arise. He came undone a bit Friday in surrendering three extra-base hits, but outings like that are par for the course at Coors Field. Bergman has been serviceable on the whole this season, owning a 3.95 ERA (3.64 FIP) while issuing just six walks over 27.1 innings.

Bergman was stellar in relief Wednesday against the Angels, allowing just one run on three hits and no walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four batters in the appearance.

After Rockies starter Jordan Lyles was forced to exit in the first inning after taking an Albert Pujols comebacker off his pitching hand, Bergman was forced to enter the game on short notice, and fared well despite the lack of prep time. Lyles' X-rays after the game confirmed he wasn't dealing with anything more than swelling, but should the injury prevent the right-hander from making his next turn in the rotation, Bergman would probably qualify as the Rockies' top spot-starting option.

Bergman took the loss in the first game of a doubleheader with the Rockies on Wednesday, giving up five runs (one earned) on seven hits over three innings, while striking out one.

Bergman didn't get the best defense behind him, but he a three run home run to Aaron Hill that did most of the damage against him in this one. He has been effective this season pitching mostly in long relief, posting a 1.26 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 14.1 innings prior to this outing.

Bergman struck out four and walked two while holding the Giants to four hits over four scoreless frames Tuesday night.

The Rockies may have Jorge De La Rosa back in the rotation when Bergman's next turn comes up Monday against the Padres at Coors Field. Most likely, Bergman will return to the bullpen after the impressive start against a thinned-out Giants lineup Tuesday.