De La Rosa, who turns 35 on April 5 -- the day after the regular season opens against the D-backs at Chase Field -- is the Rockies' career leader in wins (78) and strikeouts (877). He will be making his second Opening Day start in three years.
The strategy is different from the one Weiss used last year, when he opened with righty Kyle Kendrick at Milwaukee. The thought was the home opener was a bigger deal, and that decision went to De La Rosa -- who wasn't available because of a left groin strain suffered late in the spring.