The Rockies’ pitching rotation took another mammoth shot Thursday when general manager Dan O’Dowd announced Jorge De La Rosa will not return until at least September.

Currently Colorado ranks worst in the MLB with a 5.43 ERA. De La Rosa last pitched in 2009 when he won 16 games, but has missed much of the last two seasons with injury.

Losing De La Rosa bursts the Rockies’ last hopes at having a semi-decent established pitcher take the mound in 2012. Between the failed Jamie Moyer experiment and a parade of AAA call ups, Colorado’s starters have allowed 294 runs, 13 more than next to last placed Minnesota.

All fans really have to look forward to is three more months of Blake Street Bombers and 2013 spring training.