PITTSBURGH -- Right-hander Jeff Hoffman was recalled to start tonight's game for the Rockies against the Orioles at Coors Field. The move was expected after Hoffman was scratched from his start Wednesday for Triple-A Albuquerque.

The Rockies have been going with four starters since optioning left-hander Tyler Anderson to Albuquerque on May 4. But he had a lingering left knee injury, which has been diagnosed as a chondral defect. Anderson will have surgery at some point, and it’s not clear if he'll will be able to return this season.

At any rate, Colorado was eventually going to need five starters. By inserting Hoffman on Friday, the club will give lefty Tyler Freeland an extra day’s rest before he starts on Saturday against Baltimore.

Rockies manager Bud Black declined to officially name a starter for Friday, but Wednesday’s move crystalized Colorado's plans.

Hoffman yielded four runs in five innings of a 6-3 loss to the Nationals on April 23 in his only Major League start this season. After returning to Albuquerque, Hoffman went 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA, a .143 batting average against and 27 strikeouts in three starts. But last Friday, he gave up eight runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings at El Paso.