The Rockies called up right-handed pitcher Eddie Butler from Triple-A Albuquerque Wednesday and placed struggling left-handed starter Jorge De La Rosa on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left groin.

Butler is available to work out of the bullpen as a long reliever if necessary over the next few nights, then he’s likely to fill De La Rosa’s spot in the rotation.

“We have to sort some things out in the next few days as the picture gets a little clearer,” manager Walt Weiss. “Right now, Butler has to protect our bullpen, with Bergie (Christian Bergman) going as long as he did last night. Bergie is down for probably three days.

“So Eddie will be out in (the bullpen) as a long man. If we don’t have to use him in a long role, he becomes a possibility in ‘De La’s’ next start.”

De La Rosa was removed after an at-bat in the third inning of the Rockies’ 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh Tuesday night at Coors Field after he pulled up running down the line to first base. He had pitched poorly, already giving up two home runs to Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen.

De La Rosa, the Rockies’ opening-day starter, has looked nothing like the staff ace the team was counting on. Through five starts, he’s 1-3 with a 10.18 ERA. He’s given up three home runs in two games at Coors Field. He’s pitched past the fifth inning only once, and he got the hook after just two innings last week at Cincinnati, a game during which the Reds stole five bases in one inning.

He said he’s had some discomfort in his groin area since pitching in the season-opening game on April at Arizona, but when asked if the groin was responsible for his poor performance this season, De La Rosa said, “No, it’s me.”

He did say, however, that his arm felt “lazy,” which could account for a drop in his fastball velocity,

Weiss said he doesn’t consider De La Rosa’s injury to be a long-term problem, saying he expected the lefty to be ready to go after his 15-day stint on the DL. Weiss also said he wasn’t exactly sure when the groin injury began affecting De La Rosa.

“I think it’s been an issue, but I don’t know when,” Weiss said. “He’s had a lot of nagging injuries over the years that kind of crop up from time to time. The groin is one of them, so it’s hard to say when exactly it started.”

Weiss added that the Rockies don’t think De La Rosa has a problem with his left arm.

Butler, 25, is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts at Triple-A this season. He’s pitched well in his last three starts, going six innings in each game. During that span, he posted a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

“My first game, my balls were up in the zone,” Butler said. “But since then I have been pitching smarter, staying down in the zone and getting ahead of batters. Those are the things you need to do to have success.”

Butler made his big-league debut on June 6, 2014, at age 23.

Over the past two seasons Butler bounced between the major leagues and Triple-A. He is a combined 4-11 with a 6.04 ERA in 19 starts as a Rockie.

He was on the Rockies’ opening day roster in 2015, but struggled with his fastball command. He went 3-10 with a 5.90 ERA in 16 starts.

Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or @psaundersdp

Looking Ahead

Pirates RHP Juan Nicasio (2-2, 4.50 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 3.47), 1:10 p.m. Thursday, ROOT; 850 AM

Nicasio, whom the Rockies signed as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2006, returns to Coors Field for the first time with the Pirates. The 29-year-old right-hander signed with Pittsburgh in December as a reliever. But in 15 spring innings in the Grapefruit League, Nicasio didn’t allow a run, so the Pirates put him in their rotation. He’s striking out more than one batter per inning (21 in 20), but control is an issue (11 walks). He’ll go against Chatwood, who has never pitched against Pittsburgh in his career.

Friday: Rockies LHP Chris Rusin (1-0, 2.45 ERA) at Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 3.38), 7:40 p.m., ROOT

Saturday: Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (2-1, 3.77) at Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 6.16), 6:10 p.m., ROOT

Sunday: Rockies RHP Eddie Butler (2016 debut) at Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (0-2, 8.69), 2:10 p.m., ROOT