Johan Santana is back on schedule

DENVER -- Johan Santana will face the Rockies Sunday. That's not news. What is news is that he will be pitching on four days' rest for the first time this season.

"I'm fine," said Santana, who will oppose 49-year-old Jamie Moyer. "Everything has been fine. No problems and I'm ready to get on the mound tomorrow."

Asked if he is curious to see how his surgically repaired shoulder responds, Santana said: "No. I have to go back to spring training. That's what I was doing. I was coming back on five days every outing. Even though [the outings] weren't as long, I was able to come back and do all my stuff between starts. I think that right now, I'm fine."

Of Moyer, who is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA, Santana said: "Amazing. Everything that he has done is unbelievable. A lot of respect for him . . . But at the same time, we have to compete tomorrow."

Santana, (0-2, 3.00 ERA, four starts, 18 innings) never has pitched at Coors Field.