Jhoulys Chacin’s return date is becoming clearer

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

For the Colorado Rockies, who are hanging perfectly tough in the opening weeks of the season despite a number of injuries to their pitching staff, a little bit of good news was welcome indeed.

Truly, how great will it be to see Jhoulys Chacin back on the mound for the Rockies? Especially after the unrest associated with Jorge De La Rosa‘s first few starts and the injury this weekend to Brett Anderson, Chacin’s #45 standing on the mound will be a welcome sight.

Thomas Harding (MLB.com) and Troy Renck (Denver Post) provide the following updates on Chacin’s progress as he works his way back from a shoulder strain.

#Rockies say RHP Jhoulys Chacin will pitch for @ModestoNuts Tues, 1st Minor League rehab start. He threw 3 inn in an extended ST game Friday
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) April 14, 2014

Chacin will make rehab start Tuesday in Modesto. Could be back April 28 or May 3. Anderson was just getting traction
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) April 13, 2014

If he returned April 28th, that would make Chacin’s debut a start on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. If it’s May 3rd, that would be at home against the New York Mets. Sitting here now, my prediction would be the latter, as it would give him a little bit of extra time to get right and would allow him to make his 2014 season debut at home and against a little bit less of a daunting lineup (no disrespect intended).

Either way, the Rockies’ rotation has been put to the test early, so when Chacin does return it will be just what the doctor ordered.

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