Rockies transactions for August 4th

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has placed left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich (stress fracture in lower back, retro to July 29) and outfielder Michael Cuddyer (strained right oblique, retro to August 1) on the 15-day disabled list. To replace Friedrich and Cuddyer on the active roster, the club has selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Matt McBride and recalled right-handed pitcher Edgmer Escalona from Triple-A Colorado Springs. McBride (#7) and Escalona (#61) will be in uniform and available for tonight’s game against the Giants.

Friedrich, 25, is 5-8 with a 6.17 ERA (84.2 ip, 58 er), 30 walks and 74 strikeouts in 16 starts for the Rockies during what is his first season in the Major Leagues. Friedrich’s 74 strikeouts lead all Rockies pitchers this season. The left-hander began the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs where he went 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (30.0 ip, 10 er), four walks, 27 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .213 in five starts for the Sky Sox. Friedrich, who was rated the Rockies 13th-best prospect entering 2012 by Baseball America, was originally selected in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by Colorado out of Eastern Kentucky University.

Cuddyer, 33, is hitting .260 (91-for-350) with 30 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 56 RBI, eight stolen bases and 52 runs scored in 98 games during his first season with Colorado. Cuddyer’s 47 extra-base hits are second among all Rockies while his 30 doubles are tied for fifth-most in the National League this season. Cuddyer has seen playing time in right field (74 games) and first base (24 games) for Colorado this season. This will be the first stint on the disabled list for Cuddyer since June 29 thru September 13, 2008 with a strained tendon in his left index finger. Cuddyer is a career .271 (1197-for-4422) hitter with 269 doubles, 37 triples, 156 home runs and 636 RBI in 1,237 games over parts of 12 seasons with Minnesota (2001-2011) and Colorado (2012). Cuddyer signed a three-year contract as a free agent with Colorado prior to this season.

McBride, 27, has spent the entire 2012 season with Triple-A Colorado Springs. In 91 games for the Sky Sox, McBride has hit .354 (130-for-367) with 36 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 77 RBI and an OPS of .941 while playing first base, left field, right field and catcher. McBride, who was named a Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star, has a career average of .292 (723-for-2474) with 199 doubles, 13 triples, 79 home runs, 428 RBI, 187 walks and 385 runs in 653 career Minor League games. McBride was acquired by the Rockies from Cleveland along with three other players on July 31, 2011 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

Escalona, 25, will be in his second stint with the Major League club this season. He has a record of 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA (6.1 ip, 6 er), three walks and seven strikeouts in seven appearances for the Rockies this season. In 26 career Major League games, the right-hander has a record of 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA (38.0 ip, 12 er), 14 walks and 23 strikeouts. The Venezuela native has spent the remainder of the 2012 season at Triple-A Colorado Springs. In 30 appearances for the Sky Sox, Escalona is 3-2 with five saves, a 3.05 ERA (38.1 ip, 13 er), 16 walks, 38 strikeouts and an opponent average of .238. Escalona was originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent on September 8, 2004.

The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.