With Aaron Cook having yet to throw a pitch in a spring game because of right shoulder inflammation, the Rockies are looking for a fill-in for the fifth spot in the rotation.

There is one benefit for the Rockies with their early season schedule. If they want to skip the fifth starter because of off days, they would not need a fifth start for a third time until April 26. Taking advantage of off days, a fifth starter would have to work on April 9 at Pittsburgh and 16 against the Chicago Cubs, and not again until April 26 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Cook’s shoulder has responded to treatment and he has begun throwing off an incline. Candidates to fill-in for him include Felipe Paulino, Esmil Rogers, Clayton Mortensen, and possibly John Maine, who is coming off surgery but threw two crisp innings in his spring debut on Tuesday.

— Tracy Ringolsby