DENVER -- The Reds bullpen’s temporary phase without a left-hander ended Friday when Wandy Peralta was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of the second-half series opener against the Rockies. But Cincinnati's best lefty, Amir Garrett, will not be ready to come off the IL for at least another week.

Garrett, who went on the IL July 4 because of a left lat strain, did not join the club on its current road trip and is doing his rehab in Cincinnati. He was eligible to be activated on Saturday, and initially, the club believed that he might be ready right away.

“We wouldn’t have him back before the end of this trip,” Reds manager David Bell said. “If everything continues to go the way it is now, it should be right when we get home hopefully, or in the first few days of that homestand. He’s recovered really well. He’s kind of pain-free right now.”

Over a team-leading 42 appearances this season, Garrett is 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA. It’s not believed that he would need a rehab assignment before coming back.

“I would think he will get off the mound early next week and if that goes well, he hadn’t been out that long,” Bell said. “Of course, we want him back, but if we determine he needs an outing somewhere, if everything goes the way it is now, it won’t be that much time he has missed. Hopefully we will just activate him and get him pitching in a Major League game.”

Peralta was out since June 15 because of a right hip flexor strain, after going 0-1 with a 5.96 ERA in 28 games. He surrendered a grand slam to Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor in his last appearance on June 14.

To clear a roster spot for Peralta, the Reds optioned utility player Josh VanMeter to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Gennett scratched

Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett was in the original lineup Friday vs. the Rockies, his first scheduled start since leaving a July 3 game with left groin tightness. But Gennett was a late scratch because of an illness. He was still considered available to play off the bench. Derek Dietrich started in place of Gennett, batting in Gennett's spot in the five-hole.

Gennett has played six games since returning from the 60-day IL on June 28 after he missed three months with a right groin strain. He last played Saturday, appearing as a pinch-hitter vs. Cleveland and striking out.

Reds hold early workout

Well before their regularly scheduled batting practice early Friday afternoon, Reds players and coaches assembled at Coors Field for a post-All-Star break workout. Pitchers did defensive drills, while infielders and outfielders did their own drills. Bell also wanted everyone to get acclimated to playing in Colorado's high altitude.

“It was good. I hated to shorten the guys’ break and have them get here early,” Bell said. “But four days off, your body can shut down a little bit. It was important to just get out and get back into the present moment of playing this game, really, physically and mentally. We did a lot of defensive work and conditioning stuff just to get the body moving. … They were getting after it. Hopefully that will help.”

Draft pick signing deadline expires

Friday at 5 p.m. ET was the deadline for all 2019 Draft selections to be signed. The Reds agreed to terms with one more player: catcher and 13th round pick Luke Berryhill from the University of South Carolina.

Cincinnati signed 33 of its 41 picks overall this year.