Jeff Francis said Monday that he's unlikely to be ready for Opening Day because of continued shoulder problems.
Francis received a cortisone shot earlier this month after struggling through shoulder pain for much of last season, but has yet to throw off a mound. MRI exams have shown no significant damage, but Francis described the injury as "a sharp pain right in the front of my shoulder" and the Rockies are calling it "left shoulder inflammation."
The Rockies are already going to be taking a hit offensively with the loss of Holliday and now the pitching staff is taking a hit. Looks like he won't be ready for the start of the season if at all. Francis suffered from the same shoulder pain pretty much all last season and only pitched 143 innings with a 5.01 ERA.