In the first week of the season, manager Clint Hurdle made it apparent he intends to give 1B Todd Helton ample rest and more than he ever has in past seasons. Helton underwent arthroscopic back surgery Sept. 30 to repair a bulging disk that was causing numbness in his left leg and making it hard, if not impossible, to set up on his back side. Helton went through a diligent rehabilitation process and does daily maintenance exercises for his back, and Hurdle said in spring training that Helton, who would play every day if it were up to him, would be rested more often. Helton was not in the lineup twice last week on day games following night games, and Hurdle indicated that pattern is likely to continue.
PLAYER NEWS: --C Chris Iannetta homered on his second at-bat of the season off Arizona's Brandon Webb but since then has gone hitless in 15 at-bats with seven strikeouts. He has walked twice in each of his past two games.
--RF Brad Hawpe is expected to return to the lineup Friday at Los Angeles. He left Monday's game at Chicago in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness and didn't play Wednesday.
--OF Ryan Spilborghs, who is 2-for-17 in his past four games, had a career-high four strikeouts Wednesday, giving him 10 strikeouts in 35 at-bats this season. He had twice struck out three times in a game, the last time on June 14 last season at Chicago against the White Sox.
--3B Garrett Atkins has hit safely in five consecutive games, going 6-for-22 (.273) in that stretch. The hitting streak came after Atkins went 0-for-11 in three games to start the season.
--LF Seth Smith set a career high with three walks Wednesday. He had walked twice in a game June 8 last season against the Brewers. Smith is 2-for-16 this season, both hits being home runs. He has nearly as many walks (six) as strikeouts (seven).
--1B Todd Helton, a left-handed hitter, is 1-for-14 against right-handers and 4-for-11 against lefties. His only hit off an right-hander and his only extra-base hit came Wednesday on his 22nd at-bat of the season against the Cubs' Rich Harden.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RF Brad Hawpe (left hamstring tightness) left the April 13 game and didn't play April 15. He could return to action April 17.
RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He will miss at least the first month of the season. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year.
LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely.
ROTATION:
RHP Aaron Cook
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
RHP Jason Marquis
LHP Jorge De La Rosa
BULLPEN:
RHP Huston Street (closer)
RHP Manuel Corpas
RHP Jason Hammel
LHP Alan Embree
LHP Glendon Rusch
RHP Ryan Speier
RHP Jason Grilli
RHP Matt Belisle
CATCHERS:
Chris Iannetta
Yorvit Torrealba
INFIELDERS:
1B Todd Helton
2B Clint Barmes
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Garrett Atkins
INF/OF Jeff Baker
INF Omar Quintanilla
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Seth Smith
CF Ryan Spilborghs
RF Brad Hawpe
OF/INF Ian Stewart
OF Dexter Fowler
