PHOENIX -- The camera loves Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs. As host of FSN's "Rockies All-Access," he's taken teammate Jayson Nix into the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and even dined with Rockies fans' most hated rival, the Diamondbacks' Eric Byrnes.

At the start of the Fox network's regional telecast of Saturday's game with the Diamondbacks, it was Spilborghs reading the lineups in his offbeat style.

"I enjoy it," Spilborghs said. "It's a kick that my family and friends get to see me on TV. They might not see me playing in the games, but they get to see me doing the other things."

But Spilborghs may be getting more air time when he really wants it -- during games.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle started Spilborghs in the leadoff spot, and in center field, on Saturday. It was the third start of the season for Spilborghs. In his last start, against the Braves on Wednesday, Spilborghs hit a three-run homer, had a triple and a double and drove in a total of five runs.

In a show of confidence in Spilborghs, Hurdle started him in place of Willy Taveras, even though Taveras has hit safely in the last four games and appears to have shaken an early slump. Hurdle also is starting Spilborghs against D-backs tough right-hander Dan Haren, showing that he thinks of Spilborghs as more than a guy to use against lefties.

"Willy is performing well now, no doubt, but Spilborghs has earned is opportunities," Hurdle said. "There might be a matchup here or there that plays into that. There might be a matchup of a pitcher that plays better against left-handers than right-handers that plays into that. And it might be what he brings.

"He can provide a spark for an offense in a number of different ways. 'Spilly's' goal is to play more games, and my goal is to get him out there more than I did last year."

Last year while hitting .299 in 97 games, Spilborghs dominated left-handed pitching to the tune of .356 with five home runs in 87 at-bats. That's the reason he'll spell left-handed-hitting Brad Hawpe in some games against lefties. But Spilborghs was respectable against right-handers as well, hitting .271 with five homers in 177 at-bats.

"The more opportunities I get, the better I feel," Spilborghs said. "If I keep giving quality at-bats, I'm going to start getting more at-bats out there. That gives me a chance to do something.

"I don't want to just make a living off just left-handed pitchers. I'd like to be able to face guys like [Brandon] Webb and Haren and [the Dodgers'] Brad Penny -- the guys that are the top pitchers in the league -- and do well off them."