Colorado Rockies scratch Jorge De La Rosa, call up Chris Rusin to start

Jorge De La Rosa has been scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday, as first reported by Nick Groke of The Denver Post. The Colorado Rockies will call up Chris Rusin from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace De La Rosa for Game 2 of the team's series against the Cincinnati Reds.

De La Rosa is dealing with a cut on his throwing hand that was bothering him since before his last start.

"'De La' started the game with a tear in his finger," Rockies catcher Michael McKenry said after De La Rosa's last start, which ended in a 7-3 Colorado victory. "He was bleeding on the ball in the bullpen. It was tough for him, but he battled."

The 34-year-old left-hander needed 108 pitches to get through 4⅓ innings, during which he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out five.

De La Rosa, the Rockies' ace, owns a 6.51 ERA in 27⅔ innings this season. He's been rather proficient at striking out batters, racking up 10.1 whiffs per nine innings. But De La Rosa is also approaching five walks per nine, a possible side effect of his late start to the season that was caused by a groin issue during spring training.

Rusin, 28, has posted a 6.29 ERA in seven games -- six starts -- for the Isotopes this season. The left-hander came to the Rockies near the end of last season on a waiver claim from the Chicago Cubs. In 108⅔ big league innings, Rusin owns a 4.97 ERA with 5.4 SO/9 and 3.3 BB/9.

To make room for Rusin on the 25-man roster, the Rockies optioned left-handed reliever Yohan Flande to Triple-A.