Chacin admits poor decision: Colorado starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin said Wednesday he regrets pitching through shoulder pain in spring training that ultimately landed him on the disabled list. Chacin has yet to be cleared to throw as he continues to work past biceps tendinitis and shoulder inflammation. "I wanted to be out there to help my team. I was running more, doing anything I could, thinking it might help me get stronger. I had never been on the DL, even in the minors, and I didn't want to go on it. But it never got better," Chacin told the Denver Post. "It was really tough for me to go out there like that. ... I should have said something." (Updated 05/18/2012)
Injury Report
Shoulder - 15-day DL. Out until at least late May (Updated - 5/7/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Rockies manager Jim Tracy said the team asked if Chacin was pitching injured during the spring. "It's part of understanding with young players," Tracy said. "We knew there was some soreness. But there's a difference between soreness and pain. If he feels (the injury) is the reason, then we need to get him to a better place." Chacin, who had already engaged in a verbal spat with general manager Dan O'Dowd during the offseason, slumped at the beginning of the year and went 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA. He completed more than five innings only once in his five starts. Fantasy owners should consider reserving him just in NL-only formats as he could be out for an extended period. (Updated 05/18/2012).
04/15/2012 08:02 Shuffling the Rotations for Week 3
No shortage of two-start studs in Fantasy Week 3, but who else might be able to help out in a pinch? Our Al Melchior shares his Top 70 starters for the upcoming scoring period in his Shuffling the Rotations.
04/15/2012 01:27 Rockies' Helton smacks walk-off homer to finish rainy night in Denver
Todd Helton hit a two-run homer off closer J.J. Putz in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies rallied for an 8-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on a rain-soaked Saturday night.
04/14/2012 09:38 By the Numbers: Specialists for hire
Which starting pitchers might be able to help you in a specific category? Our Al Melchior spotlights a handful of names that can help in either ERA or WHIP -- but unlikely both -- in his By the Numbers.
04/11/2012 12:48 Dear Mr. Fantasy: Should you run with Samardzija?
Jeff Samardzija had a nice first start of the season for the Cubs, but what can you realistically expect from him this season? Scott White tackles that and more of your doomsday scenarios in Dear Mr. Fantasy.
04/09/2012 19:16 Barry Zito throws first shutout as a Giant
Barry Zito's shutout gave the Giants their first victory in 2012, a 7-0 win over the Rockies at Coors Field. For the 33-year-old left-hander, it was his fifth career shutout and first since April 18, 2003.
When Jhoulys Chacin registered more than a strikeout per inning in his 2010 rookie season, it seemed too good to be true, given his more pedestrian minor league rates. Sure enough, Chacin got fewer swings-and-misses in 2011, and his strikeout rate plunged to just under 7.0 batters per nine innings. What Chacin has done well throughout his professional career is get ground balls, and he took a huge step forward in that regard last season. That enabled Chacin to limit opposing batters to 20 home runs in 194 innings, even though he pitched 113 1/3 of those innings at Coors Field. Even if he doesn't ratchet his strikeout rate back up, Chacin should gain value this season by virtue of being the Rockies' ace. With more innings and more chances for wins, he figures to be a viable choice as a back-end starter in standard mixed leagues. (Updated 1/18/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start