Game Preview: Butler vs. Harang

The Rockies face the Phillies today in the second of a three game weekend set.

Eddie Butler takes the hill for the Rockies today. Earlier today, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reported that Jorge De La Rosa's minor finger injury hasn't healed yet, causing Butler to take his place. De La Rosa is being pushed back to Tuesday.

RHP Eddie Butler will start today. LHP Jorge De La Rosa's cut on his left middle finger hasn't healed

— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) May 30, 2015

#Rockies will start RHP Jordan Lyles Sun. vs. #Phillies, RHP Kyle Kendrick Mon.vs. Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers. De La Rosa backed to Tues. GM 1, GM 2 TBA vs LA

— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) May 30, 2015

Due to the off day on Thursday, Butler will be going on full rest. He'll will be making his tenth start of the season, but just his fourth outside of the National League West. It will be the second time Butler's faced off against the Phillies. In his first try on May 20, he allowed six hits and four runs in just three innings pitched in a losing effort. Though in that start he did just walk two batters. Butler's trend this season is either to be fairly unhittable while walking a bunch of batters, or very hittable without giving out free passes. He's yet to strike the balance of inducing weak contact without walking hitters. That's another way of saying he's yet to command all of his pitches. Every start for Butler is a learning experience. Here's hoping that this one includes run support and at least six innings of quality pitching.

The 37 year-old Harang makes his 11th start of the season for the Phillies. He enters the game with a crisp 1.93 ERA. Harang doesn't strike many batters out, but he doesn't walk many either, which is part of the reason for his success over the past two seasons. The Rockies saw Harang on May 19, when he allowed zero earned runs (and three runs in all) over six strong innings. This will be Harang's 16th career start against the Rockies. Over his those starts, he has an ERA of 4.20, which is not far off from his career 4.14 ERA.

Today's offensive story will be whether or not Troy Tulowitzki can show that he is really out of his slump. Hitting two dingers off of one of the National League's best pitchers is a start, but I require more evidence. Additionally, Walt Weiss appears to have accidentally hit DJ LeMahieu second and Nolan Arenado fifth today. I hope somebody catches it in time.

Game time is 1:05 MT.