Colorado Rockies pitcher John Axford was placed on the temporary inactive list Tuesday, according to the Denver Post.

Colorado Rockies pitcher John Axford was placed on the temporary inactive list Tuesday, according to the Denver Post. It is unclear why Axford is not with the team, or how long he will be gone, but LaTroy Hawkins is likely to get the save opportunities in the short term.

Axford was able to snuff out a potential ninth-inning rally by the Diamondbacks on Thursday en route to recording his 13th save.

A day after blowing his first save of the season, Axford looked like he was about to give away another game Thursday, though it largely wasn't his fault. The Rockies entered the ninth inning with a 6-2 lead, but after Boone Logan allowed the first two runners to reach base, Axford was called upon to put out the fire. After inducing a run-scoring groundout, Axford gave up a single and allowed another runner to score on a sacrifice fly, but would finally strike out Yasmany Tomas to extinguish the threat. Axford has shown some shakiness of late, but with few other intriguing options in the Rockies' bullpen, his hold on the closing gig remains firm.

Axford gave up three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one in a blown save against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Axford blew the save for the first time in 13 chances this season. His ERA and WHIP ballooned up to 2.53 and 1.22, respectively, but his role as the closer should still be secure.

Axford struck out the side Sunday to pick up his 12th save of the season in a win over the Marlins.

The right-hander worked around a walk to lock up the win for Colorado. Axford has been rock solid in the closer role so far this season and is now a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities while chipping in a 0.47 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16 strikeouts over 19 innings pitched this season.

Axford worked around a walk to pick up his 11th save in Tuesday's win over St. Louis.

Axford struck out a batter and now had 13 in 17 innings. He also induced two ground ball outs, which will be key to his success -- he has now allowed 31 ground balls against just 14 fly balls, a 68 percent ground ball rate.

Axford tossed a scoreless inning in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers to claim his 10th save of the season.

Axford has gone four consecutive outings without walking a batter, boosting his K:BB ratio to a more respectable 11:6 across 15 innings this season. Those figures still aren't good enough to justify Axford's 0.60 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, and while his surface stats will probably take a dive from here, he's clearly established himself as the Rockies' top reliever.

Axford picked up his ninth save of the season Saturday, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

His 10:6 K:BB ratio in 14 innings isn't going to wow anyone, but Axford continues to get the job done for the Rockies. His 0.64 ERA and 1.07 WHIP are unsustainable, but as long as he keeps getting saves, he'll have plenty of value.

Axford pitched a perfect ninth inning Wednesday against the Reds to notch his ninth save of the season.

The save opportunities are starting to pick up for Axford, who has collected three in the last five games alone. While his peripheral numbers don't support his 0.75 ERA, Axford has been able to avoid any ninth-inning blowups thus far and probably has a decent leash on the closing gig at this point.

Axford worked around a walk to toss a run-free bottom of the ninth Monday against the Reds en route to collecting his seventh save of the season.

Axford's 7:6 K:BB ratio over 11 innings isn't anything special for a closer and suggests that his 0.82 ERA to date is mostly a mirage. While some inflation in that statistic should be expected once his BABIP (.226) and strand rate (92.3%) start to approach more normal levels, Axford still looks like a fairly stable ninth-inning option for the Rockies. His fastball still sits in the mid-90s and has yielded a fair 9.1 percent swinging-strike rate, while he's also been able to induce groundballs (54.8 GB%) at a career-best level.

Axford gave up two hits but escaped without any runs allowed in the ninth inning to record his sixth save of the season in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Giants.

Axford has been flawless thus far since taking over closing duties, lowering his ERA to 0.90 with Saturday's scoreless outing. The Rockies' losing ways haven't provided Axford with an abundance of save opportunities, but he should generally prove reliable whenever he's called upon.

Axford tossed a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Phillies to record his fifth save of the season.

Axford has experienced no turbulence thus far since taking over closing duties after Adam Ottavino required season-ending Tommy John surgery. He's a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances, and has held opposing batters to a .172 average while generating grounders on 59.1 percent of balls in play.

Axford walked one and struck out one in the ninth Thursday against the Dodgers to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Axford is 4-for-4 now for the season, and it looks as though he's secured the closer role for the Rockies after Adam Ottavino (elbow) had his season ended.

Axford should have a long-term hold on closing duties for the Rockies with Adam Ottavino (elbow) set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Though Ottavino looked poised to emerge as one of the game's better closers this season on the heels of a dominant spring training and first few weeks of April, the Rockies will at least have a quality backup plan at their disposal in Axford, who has 119 career saves on his resume. While most of those came during his prime years in Milwaukee before he washed out with a few other organizations the last couple of seasons, he's seemed to rediscover some effectiveness with his move to the Mile High City. Axford has been limited to just six appearances this season, but has ridden his mid-90s fastball to more than a strikeout per inning, and is generating groundballs at an exceptional 64.3 percent clip. Assuming his teammates can create save opportunities for him at a decent rate, Axford should represent a relatively stable investment at closer in just about any format.

Axford struck out one and allowed two hits during a scoreless ninth inning Monday night to earn his third save of the season.

Rafael Betancourt allowed an unearned run in the eighth, which should provide some clarity regarding the current pecking order for the Rockies in the bullpen. Axford needed 24 pitches to close out Monday's win, but he threw 17 strikes and generated both of his contact outs on the ground.

Axford is the leading candidate to serve as the Rockies' closer after Adam Ottavino was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday with right triceps inflammation, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

After LaTroy Hawkins was removed from closing duties earlier in the season, both Axford and Rafael Betancourt recorded saves before Ottavino ultimately claimed the role for himself prior to the injury. However, Axford has notched two saves to Betancourt's one, and probably offers the more overpowering repertoire of the two pitchers at this stage of their respective careers. While Axford seems an unlikely bet to rediscover the form that made him one of the game's most dominant end gamers for Milwaukee earlier in the decade, he should be able to maintain some level of effectiveness due to the increased ability to induce groundballs he showed in 2014, a trend that has carried over thus far this season. That attribute figures to serve him quite well in Coors Field, where fly ball pitchers have routinely struggled.

Axford pitched the ninth inning Thursday against San Diego, working around a walk and striking out two for his second save.

Adam Ottavino had pitched Wednesday, but he threw just 12 pitches, so it's odd to see Axford get the call in the ninth, but it looks like he'll continue buzzing around the fringes of save relevance whenever Ottavino struggles (which is almost guaranteed to happen, considering he plays half his games in Coors Field) or needs a night off.

Axford will be activated from the restricted list Wednesday, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

Axford was placed on the family medical emergency list last week but was transferred to the restricted list once his eligibility expired. It appears he's satisfied with the health of his two-year-old son at this point, as he'll rejoin the Rockies' bullpen Tuesday.

Axford (personal) was transferred to the restricted list by the Rockies on Sunday, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

Axford was placed on the family medical emergency list last week, but after his eligibilty expired, the Rockies needed to make a different procedural move while he remains away from the team. The reliever has spent the last few weeks checking in on his two-year-old son, Jameson, who was bitten in the foot by a rattlesnake during spring training. He's able to return to the Rockies at any time, though the team hasn't provided an indication on when that might occur.

Axford was placed on the Family Medical Emergency List on Sunday, the Denver Post reports.

Axford is tending to an injury suffered by his 2-year-old son, and remains without a clear timetable to return. The team recalled right-hander Scott Oberg to serve as an extra bullpen arm until Axford is ready to rejoin the club.

Axford pitched a perfect tenth inning against Milwaukee on Wednesday, striking out one, to earn his first save of the season.

LaTroy Hawkins blew a save opportunity in the ninth, but Wilin Rosario put the team back on top with a solo shot the next half-inning and Axford closed the door. Axford missed time late in spring training due to a personal matter but appears to be a full-go moving forward. While Adam Ottavino seems like a slightly better speculative target for those chasing saves, Axford does have plenty of high-leverage experience and a below-average 32.3% flyball rate for his career.