Chatwood, Chacin making progress

DENVER -- Tyler Chatwood and Jhoulys Chacin, two pitchers projected to join the Rockies' starting rotation, are making progress in their injury-rehabilitation assignments and appear to be on track to return in the coming weeks.

Chatwood (8-5, 3.15 ERA in 2013) went through pitcher's fielding practice on Sunday, and is scheduled to start for the Triple-A Sky Sox in Round Rock, Texas, on Tuesday. Chatwood suffered a left hamstring strain in the final week of Spring Training and is eligible to return from the disabled list on April 13 in San Francisco. Starting on Tuesday will put him on schedule to pitch that day. Based on the rotation's current lineup, that would be Jordan Lyles' (1-0, 7.20) turn.

"He'll make his rehab start, and we'll go from there," manager Walt Weiss said of Chatwood. "If all goes well, he'll be back in the rotation after that."

Chacin (14-10, 3.47), who had been a candidate to start Opening Day until suffering a right shoulder strain that put him on the disabled list retroactive to March 21, is also making progress and could be activated late in April or early in May.

Chacin has pitched in two live-batting-practice sessions and is scheduled for a simulated game on Monday or Tuesday. He'll pitch roughly three innings and 45 pitches in the simulated game. The next step for him will be to pitch in extended spring training in advance of a Minor League rehab start.