Jorge De La Rosa will get the Opening Day nod for the Rockies

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Jorge De La Rosa will be the Rockies’ Opening Day starter, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. The Rockies haven’t made an official announcement yet. It doesn’t come as much as a surprise as his only real competition for the honor was Jhoulys Chacin, but Chacin is dealing with a shoulder strain and may not be ready for the start of the regular season. Renck adds that the top of the rotation is looking like De La Rosa followed by Tyler Chatwood and Brett Anderson.

De La Rosa, 32, posted a career-best 3.49 ERA in 167 2/3 innings of work last season despite his strikeout-to-walk ratio falling to a six-year low. The left-hander has started 30-plus games in a season just twice in his career, but the Rockies are hopeful he can continue to be an anchor in their rotation.

The Rockies picked up De La Rosa’s $11 million option for 2014 in October, meaning he can become a free agent after the season. If the Rockies have no plans to extend De La Rosa, they could trade him by the July 31 deadline.

Phils’ Hoskins tears knee, expected to miss significant time

hoskins injury
Dave Nelson/USA TODAY Sports
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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.

The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined.

Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions.

He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Sooner after, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off of the field.

Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.

The injury was another blow for the Phillies, who will be without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for another few weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow. And slugger Bryce Harper isn’t expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.