Rockies Pregame Rockies writers Tracy Ringolsby and Jack Etkin will be filing reports before every Rockies game this season.

The Rockies placed pitcher Rodrigo Lopez on the 15-day disabled list today with elbow inflammation and replaced him on the roster with reliever Matt Herges.

No tests are scheduled for Lopez, manager Clint Hurdle said. He came out of his start Wednesday night after four innings with elbow soreness. And that was after taking seven days off following a start April 10 at Los Angeles when his elbow flared up.

The disappointed Lopez said he thought he would be fine and expected to miss two or three weeks. “But better weeks than months,” Lopez said.

Hurdle didn’t announce who would pitch Monday in New York when Lopez’s turn comes up. The likely choice would be Taylor Buchholz, who relieved Lopez on Wednesday night -- putting him right on turn to face the Mets on Monday -- and threw 32 pitches in two innings.

In four games at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Herges allowed two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Hurdle said Herges touched 94 mph in his first outing for Colorado Springs but lately has shown average velocity.

Herges’ contract was purchased from Colorado Springs. The Rockies were expected to open up a spot on their 40-man roster for taking pitcher Brian Lawrence off it after he clears waivers today.

First baseman Todd Helton is being given his second scheduled day off and was not in the starting lineup. In an attempt to maximize Helton’s output, Hurdle wants him to play about 145 games and in concert with trainer Keith Dugger has arranged some off days for the first baseman. Helton has hit safely in six straight games, going 11-for-23 (.476) in that stretch with one double, one homer and seven RBI. His first scheduled day off this season was April 9 at Los Angeles, where he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth and took over at first base in the bottom of that inning.

Aaron Cook is making his fourth start today. He's looking for his first win. It's not his fault.
Cook has left two starts with a lead the bullpen squandered. He allowed one run in nine innings of his other start, but left a 1-1 game.

There are easier challenges for Cook than trying to beat the Dodgers. Their current roster has a collective .320 average against him, led by Jeff Kent (.500) and Nomar Garciaparra (.438). The Dodgers hit five of the 17 home runs Cook allowed last year.

The Rockies don't have much history against Dodger lefty Mark Hendrickson, who is starting in place of Jason Schmidt. Schmidt was placed on the disabled list Monday. John Mabry (2-for-8) is the only Rockies player with more than four at-bats against Hendrickson.

The Rockies are hitting .290 against lefties this year, including .571 for Helton, whose only home run was off lefty Doug Davis in Arizona on Sunday. They are 1-3 in games lefties have started against them, though. They split two starts by Davis and lost at San Diego when David Wells started and on Monday at Coors Field to Barry Zito and San Francisco.

The lineups:
Dodgers (10-5)
SS Fucal (S)
CF Pierre (L)
1B Garciaparra (R)
2B Kent (R)
LF Gonzalez (L)
C Martin (R)
RH Ethier (L)
3B Betemit (S)
P Hendrickson (L)

Rockies (7-8)
CF Taveras (R)
2B Carroll (R)
3B Atkins (R)
LF Holliday (R)
1B Baker (R)
RF Hawpe (L)
SS Tulowitzki (R)
C Iannetta (R)
P Cook (R)