Rockies-Braves Preview

ATLANTA -- Management of the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves are both answering questions about outfielders who are not currently on the active roster.

The Rockies are trying to determine when Gerardo Parra will be able to return from a high ankle sprain that's kept him on the disabled list since June 15. The Braves are trying to decide what to do with Hector Olivera, who is serving an 82-game suspension for violation of the league's domestic violence policy.

The two clubs will play the second of a three-game series on Saturday. Atlanta will send right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (3-3, 3.67) against Colorado right-hander Chad Bettis (7-6, 5.65).

Parra may be close to returning from the disabled list, where he's been since June 15 with a high left ankle sprain. Parra was batting .263 with five homers and 27 RBI in 63 games when he was injured. His return come be soon.

Manager Walt Weiss said, "He was running around here yesterday and looked pretty good. Ran the bases. I don't have anything as far as a rehab assignment or anything like that, but he's moving around pretty good and progressing nicely.

"He does some things for you. He provides Gold Glove caliber defense, a tough out, he's productive, lot of extra-base hits, lot of doubles ... another threat all the way around."

Atlanta sent Olivera to its Gulf Coast League team to begin a rehab stint. He is expected to be promoted to the Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate next week. The club has not decided whether Olivera will be given another opportunity in the major leagues or be released, like the Rockies did earlier this summer in a similar situation with shortstop Jose Reyes. Olivera is eligible to return to the major leagues on Aug. 2.

"With all that's gone on with this, as disappointing as it's been, I think Hector has used this time productively," said John Hart, Atlanta's president of baseball operations. "We've been comfortable, I think, with the steps he's taken, certainly off the field, which has been very important to us and obviously the work he's put in on the field.

"I think he's making an honest effort to try and put himself back and sort of resurrect his career. Other than that, we'll just follow it out, stay connected going forward. But we don't have any time frame or timetable. There's a lot of things we can do come Aug. 2."

The pitching matchup for Saturday features who guys who have been pitching well.

Foltynewicz is coming off the best start of his career, seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in a win against the White Sox. He has made three career appearances, one start, against the Rockies, going 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA.

Bettis is 3-1 with a 5.79 ERA over his last six starts, of which Colorado has won five. He beat the Phillies in his last start, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Bettis is 2-1 with a 6.35 ERA in four games, three starts, in his career against Atlanta. He was 2-0 against the Braves in 2015.

Atlanta will likely have to go without closer Arodys Vizcaino, who suffered a possible oblique strain on Friday night. Vizcaino called for the trainer after throwing his third pitch of the inning and immediately left the field. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday.