RHP Jhoulys Chacin and INF Todd Helton activated from 15-day DL

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has activated right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin and infielder Todd Helton from the 15-day disabled list. To clear room on the 25-man roster for each player, the Rockies have optioned right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood and infielder Ryan Wheeler to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Both Chacin and Helton are starting today's game vs. Tampa Bay (2:10 p.m. MDT) at Coors Field.

Chacin, 25, was the Rockies Opening Day starter on April 1 at Milwaukee becoming the third-youngest (25 years, 84 days) in franchise history. In four games prior to suffering the left lower back strain, Chacin went 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA (24.2 ip, 4 er), 6 walks and 16 strikeouts. In Chacin's last outing on April 19 against Arizona, he earned his third-straight win this year after throwing 6.1 scoreless innings and allowing just three hits before exiting the game with the injury. Chacin has gone 26-31 with a 3.55 ERA (436.0 ip, 172 er) in 86 career games, 71 starts.

Helton, 39, appeared in 13 games for the Rockies this season before suffering the left forearm strain. In the 13 games, Helton hit .268 (11-for-41) with 3 doubles, one home run and 10 RBI. With his start at first base on Opening Day, Helton made his 16th-straight start at first base on Opening Day for the Rockies, which is the most for one player on the same team among all active MLB players. Helton is the Rockies all-time leader in games (2,136), at bats (7,606), runs (1,363), hits (2,431), doubles (573), home runs (355), RBI (1,355) and walks (1,299). He was the Rockies first round pick (eighth overall) of the 1995 Draft out of Tennessee.

Chatwood, 23, made two starts in his time with Colorado, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (12.0 ip, 4 er), 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. He began the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs where he went 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA (14.2 ip, 3 er), 4 walks and 17 strikeouts in three starts for the Sky Sox prior to his recall. Chatwood has appeared in the Majors in each of the last three seasons with Colorado (2012-13) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2011). In 48 career games, 39 starts, the right-hander is 12-17 with a 4.86 ERA (218.2 ip, 118 er). He was acquired by Colorado on November 30, 2011 from the Angels in exchange for catcher Chris Iannetta.

Wheeler, 24, appeared in six games for the Rockies and hit .111 (1-for-9) with one double. Wheeler began the 2013 season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where in 15 games he batted .348 (16-for-46) with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 16 RBI and 10 runs scored. Wheeler has now played in the Majors in each of the last two seasons with Colorado (2013) and Arizona (2012), and in 56 career games has hit .229 (27-for-118) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run and 10 RBI. Wheeler was acquired by Colorado from Arizona on November 20, 2012 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Matt Reynolds.

The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.