Rockies left-hander Chris Rusin will start Saturday afternoon’s game against Miami. He fills a spot in the rotation left vacant by the season-ending toe injury to right-hander Jordan Lyles.
In another roster move, lefty Jorge De La Rosa, originally scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, will now start Tuesday against St. Louis. He was moved back two days to give his injured left middle finger a chance to more fully heal.
“I feel good, but they just told me I was being moved,” said De La Rosa, who’s been dealing with a painful cut on his finger for more than two weeks.
Manager Walt Weiss said he wanted to give De La Rosa a little more time to heal.
“We thought it was an opportunity, in Jorge’s case especially, to give him a couple of days,” Weiss said. “It just makes sense. The cut on the finger looks better. It’s still there, but it didn’t open up, but the finger is bruised.”
Right-hander Chad Bettis, with a 1.21 ERA over his past three starts, is in line to start Monday against the Cardinals, but Weiss said that start remains open for now. Bettis threw a bullpen session Friday and he is healthy.
“There’s a couple options, Bettis is one of them,” Weiss said. “We haven’t announced them, but there’s a couple of options.”
Colorado’s rotation currently sets up like this:
• Friday night vs. Marlins: Right-hander Eddie Butler.
• Saturday vs. Marlins: Rusin vs. the Marlins
• Sunday vs. Marlins: Right-hander Kyle Kendrick vs. the Marlins.
• Monday vs. Cardinals: To be announced.
• Tuesday vs. Cardinals: De La Rosa vs. Cardinals.
Rusin is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in two games, one start. That start came on May 26 at Cincinnati when he pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits. He got a no-decision when the Rockies lost to the Reds, 2-1.
“I feel like I’m throwing well, and my fastball command has been good,” said Rusin, who was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs last September.
Said Weiss: ” ‘Russ’ has done a good job and he’s earned the spot start. That’s a factor, too.”
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or
