--LHP Glendon Rusch, who allowed one run in 11 innings of two starts at Class AAA Colorado Springs, will get the start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Rusch was released by the Padres earlier this month. He is a former Cub. He takes the place of LHP Jorge De La Rosa, who has been moved to the bullpen.
--RHP Aaron Cook will be facing the Cubs for the second time this season Friday. He beat them at Coors Field 4-2 on April 24, allowing two runs in eight innings. He is 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA in five career appearances, four starts, all at Coors Field. This will be his Wrigley Field debut. --The Rockies have allowed 55 first-inning runs, most in the majors. Houston is second at 49 with Philadelphia third at 47.
--RHP Shane Lindsay, a top prospect in the Rockies system, suffered a broken hand and will be out six to eight weeks, according to reports out of Modesto, where Lindsay was pitching for the Rockies' Class A affiliate. Lindsay missed all of last season because of right shoulder surgery. He was limited to 13 games in 2006 because of the shoulder problem.
--RF Brad Hawpe (strained right hamstring) is traveling with the Rockies and expects to start a rehab assignment with Class AAA Colorado Springs on Monday. That would give him three games of at-bats before he is eligible to be activated for next week's series against Milwaukee at Coors Field. Hawpe said Thursday he is running 100 percent without any problem.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Players in the Rockies starting lineup on Sunday opened the season at Class AAA Colorado Springs -- 2B Jonathan Herrera, RF Seth Smith, 3B Ian Stewart, and SS Omar Quintanilla.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's what life is all about. Nobody anticipates things like this, but it is the speed of life. You don't know where it is going to take you next. You better be able to ride it out, not back off, if you have any concern of winning." -- Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, on key injuries that the team has suffered.
