NUMBERS GAME

20 roster moves for the Rockies this month with right-hander Tim Harikkala being designated for assignment to make room for left-hander Brian Fuentes on the active roster. The Rockies have used 44 players this season, 23 of them pitchers. The club records are 55 players (27 pitchers) in 2005.

NEXT UP

Left-hander Franklin Morales will make his major league debut Saturday at Los Angeles, barring the Rockies making a waiver trade or claim in the next three days.

Morales failed to get out of the fifth inning in his start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday, but he had pitched well in is first two starts for the Sky Sox and has the arm strength to work deep into a game.

The other in-house option for the Rockies was Dan Serafini, but the former No. 1 draft choice of the Minnesota Twins, who most recently pitched in Taiwan before joining Colorado Springs, has not been stretched out and would fit better in a relief role.

The Rockies have inquired about Minnesota right- hander Ramon Ortiz. They also showed interest in Baltimore right-hander Steve Trachsel but indications from the Orioles are they do not want to move Trachsel.

HE'S BACK

Activating Fuentes from the disabled list adds depth to a bullpen in which Manny Corpas has taken over as the closer. Fuentes is expected to share the eighth-inning load with right-hander Jorge Julio, although once Fuentes is at full strength, he figures to also get opportunities to close games.

Fuentes has been out since July 4 with a strained muscle under his left arm pit.