Ubaldo Jimenez was expecting to get the Opening Day assignment for the Rockies, which he did Wednesday. The surprise came when Aaron Cook was in Jim Tracy’s office when the manager told Jimenez he would oppose the Brewers on April 5 in Milwaukee.

Jason Hammel, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez draw starting assignments for first three spring training games later this week.

More efficiency pitching from a stretch will enable Ubaldo Jimenez, who will draw the Opening Day assignment, to rise to No. 1 starter status.

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.

Phillies blunt Rockies’ three-run rally in the eighth with three runs of their own against closer Huston Street to win the NLDS in four games

Lee thows complete game and stymies Rockies on six hits, Jimenez stumbles in mid-game and Phillies cruise to victory in Game 1 of the NLDS

Rockies win fifth straight and are one game behind the Dodgers with two to play as Jimenez wins 15th game and he and Betancourt combine to strike out Manny Ramirez four times

The St. Louis Cardinals clinched the National League Central at the expense of the Colorado Rockies, who saw their lead in the wild-card standings dwindle to 2 1/2 games.

Cook gets a chance to earn potential playoff spot.

The Colorado Rockies squeezed out just enough base hits against Dan Haren and the Arizona Diamondbacks to pick up a game in the wild-card standings on the Giants, Braves and Marlins, who all lost.

The Colorado Rockies saw their lead in the wild-card standings fall to 2 1/2 games as they were outhit and outpitched for the second consecutive game by the San Francisco Giants.

Rockies open three-game series at AT&T Park on Monday night.