DENVER -- The Rockies activated veteran infielder Daniel Descalso from the 15-day disabled list and optioned first baseman Ben Paulsen to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.
Descalso, 29, who signed last season for two years and $3.6 million after five seasons with the Cardinals, fractured his left hand when hit by a pitch from the Indians' Tom Gorzelanny during Spring Training. He was activated after going 6-for-15 (.400) with one RBI, a double and three walks during a four-game injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque.
"Danny is ready to go," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the Rockies' 5-2 win. "He's 100 percent, performed well, and his rehab assignment showed that his timing and everything else is where it's supposed to be. So he's ready to go."
Paulsen, 28, is in his third season but made an Opening Day roster for the first time. He was hitting .258 (17-for-66) with one home run, 10 RBIs and five doubles, but he has Minor League options, meaning he can be sent down without being exposed to other clubs via waivers.
"I will say that Benny has done his part," Weiss said. "I think he's done a nice job. He's done what we've asked him to, so it wasn't a punishment."
Matzek struggles
Lefty Tyler Matzek, trying to work his way back from a bout with performance anxiety, struggled in his first rehab outing with Class A Modesto. He walked the only batter he faced, with one strike in five pitches, and was charged with a wild pitch in a lefty-on-lefty situation.
"It's a step -- he's out there competing again," Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said. "He'll go back out there again tonight [Friday]. He's just got to take it outing by outing. It could've gone better, but we're just working through it.
"The plan is we're going to get him out there in situations and hopefully he can have a good outing, get out of there and take it on to the next outing."
Matzek, 25, the 11th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, is 8-12 with a 4.06 ERA in 25 games, 24 starts, over 2014 and '15 with the Rockies. But he struggled with walks during five early-season starts last season and continued to in the Minors.
Castro begins rehab
Righty reliever Miguel Castro, who had a 1.50 ERA in six appearances before going to the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, gave up three hits and two runs -- including a home run -- for Albuquerque against Salt Lake in his first game on injury rehab assignment.