David Hale was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Thursday due to a strained oblique, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

Hale was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Thursday due to a strained oblique, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

Analysis:

Despite his poor spring results, Hale is being viewed as a strong candidate to open the season in the rotation following the release of Jhoulys Chacin and the news earlier in the day Tuesday that Jorge De La Rosa (groin) would likely open the season on the DL. While the Rockies aren't labeling Hale's injury as a serious issue just yet, it's nonetheless a worrisome development given the existing personnel losses. Hale doesn't have nearly as much fantasy intrigue as fellow rotation contenders Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, but with the Rockies likely harboring some reservations about having those two young pitchers open the season in the majors, the 27-year-old Hale makes for a serviceable placeholder on the staff. The Rockies will see how Hale progresses over the next few days before determining if he too might be at risk of missing the start of the campaign.