Concerned about his shoulder after playing catch Saturday, Colorado Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt wanted to be examined by medical director Dr. Tom Noonan. The news Betancourt got should ease hit mind.

Rockies reliever, who had been slated to throw an inning in the Rockies’ first spring training game, feels fine but is making up for time lost in January following bout with flu.

Five starting pitchers accounted for 155 of the Colorado Rockies’ 162 starts in 2009, unheard of stability for a franchise whose pitching staff at times has been one of baseball’s most tired jokes. The Rockies likely will see one change in their starting rotation in 2010, and that to welcome back an old friend.

The Rockies announced Tuesday they had agreed to contracts with two more arbitration-eligible players, signing outfielder Ryan Spilborghs to a two-year contract and pitcher Jason Hammel to a one-year deal.

The Colorado Rockies announced Thursday they had agreed to one-year contracts with a three arbitration-eligible players: starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, infielder Clint Barmes and relief pitcher Taylor Buchholz.

De La Rosa suffers groin injury and Rockies hopes to win division come crashing down in five-run seventh, sending them Philadelphia as the wild card to start the playoffs Wednesday

The Colorado Rockies gutted out a tough win in the series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals behind a defensive gem from Clint Barmes and a six-out save from Huston Street. The Rockies remain 2 1/2 games up in the wild-card standings.

Cook gets a chance to earn potential playoff spot.

Rockies salvage final game of series in San Francisco and head to Arizona with 3 1/2-game lead in wild-card with 15 games to play.

Rockies avoid sweep and increase lead over Giants to 3 1/2 games as De La Rosa pitches eight scintillating innings and Betancourt shrugs off Tulowitzki’s throwing error and picks up a shaky Morales in the ninth to preserve a huge victory

The Colorado Rockies had trouble with every San Diego pitcher except the closer, finally breaking through the Padres’ committee of relievers with a four-run ninth against Heath Bell. With the come-from-behind win, the Rockies extended their lead in the wild-card standings to 5 1/2 games and stayed two behind the Dodgers.

Smith homers twice, drives in five runs as Rockies pile on Diamondbacks for series sweep and take two-game lead over Giants in wild-card race