4 Pat Valaika 1B

Valaika went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI on Saturday against the Athletics.

Valaika took advantage of a rare opportunity to start, taking left-hander Brett Anderson deep in the fourth inning for his second home run of the season. Even with D.J. Lemahieu's oblique injury forcing him to the disabled list, Garrett Hampson has jumped Valaika for playing time at second base. That leaves him as little more than a desperation streaming option in daily lineup leagues or as a punt play in DFS contests.

Valaika will start Saturday against Seattle in place of the injured D.J. LeMahieu (back).

Valaika will bat eighth and play second base. He'll face the left-handed Wade LeBlanc.

Valaika will be starting at shortstop Saturday in place of Trevor Story, who was scratched with a bruised foot, Nick Groke of The Athletic Denver reports.

Valaika has found the going much tougher at the plate this season after posting an .817 OPS in 195 plate appearances last year, hitting just .133/.191/.217 in 90 plate appearances so far.

Valaika was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Valaika will provide added depth behind DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado in the infield after spending the past four weeks at the Triple-A level. Over 37 games with the Rockies this season, Valaika is hitting just .120/.185/.173. In a corresponding move, Yency Almonte was optioned to the minors.

Valaika was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The Rockies decided to swap Valaika out for Ryan McMahon with Valaika off to a dismal .120/.185/.173 start through 82 plate appearances. Valaika had a healthy .533 slugging percentage in 195 plate appearances with the big club last year and figures return at some point later this summer, but it's starting to look like he may not hit enough to ever become a major-league regular.