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The Colorado Rockies will call up 26-year-old right-hander Chad Bettis to start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in place of the recently-demoted Tyler Matzek, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports:
#Rockies Chad Bettis is here. Will pitch Thursday in LA.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) May 13, 2015
A corresponding roster move will be made Thursday when Bettis is officially called up, so the Rockies' 25-man roster remains unchanged for tonight's game against the Angels.
This will be Bettis' third stint with the Rockies, as he was with the team for parts of 2013 and 2014. He posted an ERA of 6.88 in 69⅓ innings over the last two seasons, but that number improved to 5.02 in his 37⅔ innings in eight starts in 2013.
The Rockies moved Bettis out of the bullpen and returned him to a starting role at Triple-A Colorado Springs at the end of the 2014 season. He posted a 4.88 ERA as they stretched him out over five starts with the Sky Sox last season. Bettis remained a starter in Triple-A this season with Albuquerque and has easily been the Isotopes' best starter in 2015, not counting a rehabbing Jorge De La Rosa, posting a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings over the course of six starts.
The Rockies passed on calling up top prospect Jon Gray, likely because of Gray's struggles in Triple-A so far this season, he has an 8.16 ERA and 4.47 FIP in 28⅔ innings with Albuquerque this season, and because the team intends to recall Matzek fairly soon.
This will mark Bettis' first major league start since Sept. 8, 2013, when he pitched three shutout innings against the Padres at Petco Park.
Following Bettis in the Rockies' rotation will be Eddie Butler Friday, Jorge De La Rosa Saturday and Kyle Kendrick closing out the series with the Dodgers Sunday.