Colorado's Todd Helton, Coming Off DL, Will Start

At almost 100 percent, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has told trainers he'll be ready to start, not just pinch hit, when he returns to the team from the disabled list on Friday. Expect Helton to play for all or most of the game, perhaps coming out for a pinch hitter or defensive replacement in the seventh or eighth inning. Trainers want to take it slow to assure Helton has not been weakened by his ordeal with Crohn's Disease, an inflammation of the gastro-intestinal system. Helton expects to play the entire game, and may.