Rockies’ Swift to Miss Next Start

Colorado right-hander Bill Swift, slowed because of injuries for the past three years, will miss at least one start because of a strained chest muscle.

Swift (1-1) strained the muscle making a throw to first base Monday against Montreal and will miss his scheduled start Sunday against Atlanta.

“We were right where we wanted to be and moving forward,” pitching coach Frank Funk said. “This is a big step backward. That leaves a big hole in the middle of our ship.”

Swift has not played a full season for the Rockies since going to Colorado in 1995. Shoulder problems limited him to 19 starts that season and only three in 1996.

Funk said reliever Darren Holmes, who has not given up a run in 8 1/3 innings this season, will take Swift’s place in the rotation. It will be Holmes’ first career start.

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Right-hander Salomon Torres, put on waivers by the Seattle Mariners, was claimed by the Montreal Expos.

Torres, 25, was 3-3 with a 4.59 earned-run average in 10 games with the Mariners last season. He spent part of 1996 with their Triple-A team at Tacoma.

Manager Felipe Alou said he has often seen Torres throw his sinking fastball.

“The most important thing about him is he’s got a healthy arm,” Alou said. “Everything will be put in place to allow him to succeed. If he can’t throw here, he should maybe look for another line of work.”