The Rockies’ offense, which has shown signs of life lately, is getting more help.

First baseman Daniel Murphy, who had been sidelined by a left index finger fracture since March 30, was activated from the injured list ahead of Colorado’s series finale against Washington on Wednesday.

“Getting him back is something we’re excited about because seems like forever ago (he got hurt) in Miami,” manager Bud Black said. “He means a lot to the team, just because of his veteran presence, how he plays and how he conducts his at-bats. There’s some sense that his at-bats will rub off on other guys.”

Murphy, 34, was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Wednesday. He was Colorado’s lone major signing in the offseason, coming to the Rockies on a two-year, $24 million deal, and is expected to be a high-average guy near the top of the lineup who can take some pressure off the team’s top power hitters, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story.

Murphy is not putting a big burden on his shoulders upon his return.

“It’s not just coming back for the sake of coming back — I feel like I can be productive,” Murphy said. “But there’s no more pressure than that. I’m going to go out and enjoy the game and try to play it the same way my five-year-old son plays.”

Murphy played three rehabilitation games with the Isotopes, and said wrapping his healing left index finger fully around the bat hasn’t been an issue.

“I got a lot of at-bats,” he said. “To get 16 at-bats in three days was perfect.”

In a corresponding move, the Rockies optioned right-hander Jeff Hoffman back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Hoffman, 26, made his first start of the season on Tuesday in place of an injured Kyle Freeland. He allowed four runs on six hits through six innings in the loss, although Black said the outing was encouraging in light of Hoffman’s 13.89 Triple-A ERA coming into the game.

Blackmon passes Castilla. Charlie Blackmon continued his recent offensive tear with a solo homer to right in the fourth inning Wednesday. Blackmon also passed longtime Rockie (and the club’s current special assistant to the general manager) Vinny Castilla in career runs scored as a Rockie. Blackmon now ranks sixth with 612.

Local action at Coors. Baseball fans can catch the last of the 2019 prep action at Coors Field in the coming week. The schedule: Monarch vs. Wheat Ridge, Friday 2 p.m.; Grandview vs. ThunderRidge and Arapahoe vs. Chaparral, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday; Erie vs. Prairie View, Tuesday 3 p.m., Mullen vs. Horizon and Eaglecrest vs. Legacy, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m Wednesday.

The Rockies are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series in Atlanta on Friday.

Trending: Trevor Story extended his hitting streak to 13 games. That’s the longest active streak in the majors and also ties a career high for the shortstop, who hit safely in 13 consecutive games last July.

At issue: German Marquez had been nearly untouchable early on in games this season, posting a 1.20 ERA with a .157 opponent average in the first three innings of starts. That stood in stark contrast to his struggles in the first three innings of games in 2018, when he had a 4.73 ERA and .265 opponent average. But Marquez reverted back to last season’s sloppy early-game form on Wednesday, allowing three runs in as many innings before righting the ship.

Upcoming pitching matchups

Friday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (1-1, 3.55) at Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2019 debut), 5:20 p.m., ATTRM

Saturday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (2-3, 2.78) at Braves LHP Max Fried (3-0, 1.38), 5:20 p.m., ATTRM

Sunday: Rockies TBD at Braves RHP Kevin Gausman (1-2, 3.96), 11:20 a.m., ATTRM

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