Rockies’ Jon Gray goes on injured list with forearm tightness

As it turns out, Jon Gray’s forearm injury has not healed completely.

The Rockies placed the right-handed starter on the 10-day injured list Wednesday because of lingering tightness in his forearm. He was scheduled to start Thursday’s game against Atlanta at Coors Field.

Chi Chi Gonzalez will take Gray’s spot in the rotation on Thursday.

Gray threw a quality bullpen session on Tuesday but manager Bud Black said he felt soreness in his forearm several hours later.

“We just decided we don’t need Jon to pitch under that condition mentally,” Black said.

Black mentioned the possibility of Gray coming off the IL and starting in the middle of next week depending on how he feels.

Gray left his start against the Dodgers in the third inning on Saturday night at Los Angeles. Gray was clearly in pain when he spiked a pitch.

This marks Gray’s second stint on the IL this season. He was injured June 4 and placed on the IL a day later with a strain of his right flexor tendon and pain in his elbow. Gray underwent an MRI but the test indicated there was no structural damage. Still, Gray didn’t pitch again until June 25.

Gray, 29, is scheduled to become a free agent for the first time, but he’s said he would like to re-sign with Colorado. He is 7-10 with a 4.13 ERA in 24 starts.

In other moves, the Rockies recalled right-handed pitchers Antonio Santos and Justin Lawrence, and also selected the contract of right-hander Julian Fernández from Triple-A Albuquerque.