July 17, 2008 5:47 PM

Redman to pen; 7-16

RHP Kip Wells will be activated and join the rotation on Monday. LHP Mark Redman has been moved to the bullpen in the meantime. With Aaron Cook throwing 42 pitches in Tuesday's All-Star Game, he has been moved back to start on Sunday with lefties Glendon Rush and Jorge De La Rosa pitching Friday and Saturday.

When Wells is activated on Monday the Rockies will have to make a roster move. They could sent out RHP Ryan Speier, who has an option. If Speier stays the Rockies would have to put someone through waivers and odds are Redman would be the oddman out.

DeLaRosa and Redman have both struggled in the strting role, but De La Rosa is younger and has a live arm that the Rockies would like to see if they can get enough consistency from so that he could fill a bullpen role if not a spot in the rotation.

LHP JEFF FRANCIS, on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session and felt good enough that the expectation is the Rockies will send him out in the next couple of days to begin a rehab assignment. Odds are he will go to Double-A Tulsa to work with Bo McLaughlin, who is familiar with Francis' mechanics from when Francis pitched at Tulsa.

1B TODD HELTON (lower back inflammation) and OF Ryan Spilborghs (strained side muscle) both went through light work on Thursday. Helton had some soreness flare up, but trainer Keith Dugger was not surprised. Spilborghs has been out a week and did some light work just to see how his side would react.

THE LINEUPS
ROCKIES
CF Willy Taveras (rh)
1B Jeff Baker (rh)
LF Matt Holliday (rh)
3B Garrett Atkins (rh)
C Chris Iannetta (rh)
RF Brad Hawpe (lh)
SS Clint Barmes (rh)
2B Jayson Nix (rh)
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (rh)

PIRATES
CF Nate McLouth (lh)
2B Freddy Sanchez (rh)
C Ryan Doumit (sh)
LF Jason Bay (rh)
1B Adam LaRoche (lh)
RF Doug Mientkiewicz (lh)
3B Jose Bautista (rh)
LHP Paul Malholm (lh)
SS Jack Wilson (rh)

Posted by Tracy Ringolsby at 5:47 PM | Comments (0)