Matt Holliday rejoined the Rockies’ lineup today after spending the past 15 days on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.
To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rockies optioned outfielder Seth Smith. Smith had shown flashes of hitting over the past few weeks. But the Rockies have a logjam of outfielders, with Brad Hawpe and Holliday now healthy.
Smith’s demotion leaves left-handed slugger Ian Stewart in line for potential at-bats in interleague play this weekend at the Chicago White Sox, where a designated hitter will be used.
Holliday worked three games in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs this past weekend. He went 6-for-10 in three games.
Holliday is hitting .321 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs with the Rockies this season. The Rockies went 5-9 with him out of the lineup and are in last place in the National League West, 9-1/2 games behind Arizona.
The Rockies have won four of their past five games and will start Aaron Cook tonight against San Francisco. Cook (8-3, 3.16 ERA) is bidding to make his first All-Star team, given his strong first-half numbers. He goes against San Francisco left-hander Pat Misch (0-2, 5.79).
Colorado (24-39) is 4-1/2 games behind the Giants (29-35) in the standings.
Tuesday night’s Rockies lineup:
CF Tavares
2B Baker
LF Holliday
1B Helton
3B Atkins
RF Hawpe
C Iannetta
SS Quintanilla
RHP Cook
Tulo begins rehab
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, out the past six weeks with a torn left quad tendon, is travelling to Class-A Modesto in California tonight to begin a rehab assignment.
Manager Clint Hurdle indicated that Tulowitzki would play a few games in Modesto, then a handful in Triple-A Colorado Springs before rejoining the Rockies.
His rehab assignment will be a bit longer than Holliday and Hawpe experienced because he’s been out a much longer time. Not only does he need to test the injury, he also needs to regain timing offensively with a chunk of at-bats.
“I’m really excited. Hopefully everything is ok,” Tulowitzki said today.
