Jhoulys Chacin injury: Rockies ace will undergo MRI on shoulder, is out indefinitely

Well this is just a fantastic way to start 2014.

Rockies No. 1 starter Jhoulys Chacin is suffering from shoulder inflammation and will undergo an MRI on his right (throwing) shoulder on Monday, the team announced on Sunday. Chacin will be out indefinitely. For a team that can't seem to keep it together health-wise, this is rather unwelcome news at this juncture.

Chacin was the unquestioned ace of the staff last season, bouncing back from injuries and ineffectiveness in 2012 to post a 3.47 ERA in 197⅓ innings, good for a team-leading 5.8 rWAR. Speaking of 2012, Chacin had some issues in spring training that year as well, and knowing what we know now in regards to how that season played out, the Rockies and their fans should probably be prepared for the worst when it comes to their 26-year-old budding star.

That leaves Jorge De La Rosa or Brett Anderson to vie for the team's top spot in the rotation. Owner Dick Monfort suggested in his Twitter Q&A session that Anderson could be the Opening Day starter, and that was before Chacin's injury.

More to come on this sobering news.