Chatwood to make first start in finale vs. Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss announced that righty Tyler Chatwood will make his 2014 debut against the Giants on Sunday afternoon, pushing righty Jordan Lyles -- who filled in for two starts while Chatwood recovered from a slight left hamstring strain -- to Monday's opener of four games at San Diego.

The upshot is lefty Franklin Morales will move from the rotation to the bullpen.

Lyles lost the competition to Morales for a rotation spot in Spring Training, and only Chatwood's injury prevented Lyles from beginning the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs. However, Lyles went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his two starts while Morales was 0-1, 6.94. Morales joins sometime-closer Rex Brothres and Boone Logan to give the Rockies a trio of hard-throwing lefties.

The Rockies will decide how they make room for Chatwood on the active roster -- either sending down a reliever or a position player -- on Sunday.

"Lyles is pitching really well and as we sit here today it's the best move for our club," Weiss said Friday. "Frankie gives us a lot of versatility in the bullpen. I know he really enjoyed starting. He wanted to come here and get an opportunity to start. It's not like he didn't pitch well enough to stay there. But it's the move that makes our club as good as it can be."