Butler struck out three and walked two while holding the Giants to four runs on nine hits over six innings to earn his second win of the season Friday night.

He threw 91 pitches in the outing (55 strikes), but fell behind against more than half of the batters that he faced (12 first-pitch strikes, 27 batters). It should be noted that one of the walks Friday was intentional, but Butler's poor control and low strikeout rate (13:13 K:BB) don't support his 3.27 ERA through four starts. Butler's next start will come at Chase Field against Arizona on Wednesday.

Butler was dealt the loss Sunday against the Dodgers after surrendering two runs on six hits and a walk over five innings.

Butler is holding down an excellent 2.25 ERA over his first three starts, but an 10:11 K:BB ratio over his 16 innings hints that he hasn't been nearly as effective as one might think. Once his 89.8 percent strand rate begins to normalize a bit, his ERA could skyrocket.

Butler dodged trouble all day in his start Monday against the Giants, stranding 10 runners in 5.1 innings. He allowed five hits, six walks and hit a batter while striking out only one, but somehow didn't allow a run to get the win.

Butler's 1.64 ERA is a mirage - he's allowed 10 walks over 11 innings in his first two starts. However, he's not allowing a lot of hard contact. His next start will come on Sunday against the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine.

Butler struck out five and walked four while giving up two runs on four hits over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Brewers.

Butler's only mistake of the night was a two-run home run to Adam Lind in the third inning. The 24-year-old was an out away from a quality start but was relieved by Christian Friedrich in the sixth with two outs and a man on third. Butler is scheduled to make his second start of the season Monday against the Giants.

Butler (shoulder) will start Wednesday's game in Milwaukee, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Butler's shoulder apparently checked out, and he has won a spot in the starting rotation. While he won't have to deal with Coors Field in his first start, Butler will still have to face a tough lineup at a hitter-friendly stadium. Assuming no setbacks with the shoulder, his second outing lines up for Apr. 14 or 15 in San Francisco.

Butler (shoulder) is in line to start the Rockies' third game of the season in Milwaukee if he checks out physically, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports. "He's got a good chance to pitch in that game if he's healthy," manager Walt Weiss said. "But that's a big if."

His right shoulder is feeling better and he decided to play long toss Wednesday in an effort to prove he is over the bout of shoulder fatigue that forced him from Monday's start. If he can pitch Saturday, he will be in line to start the finale in Miller Park on Wednesday, Apr. 8. This contradicts a prior report that Butler was no longer in the hunt for a rotation spot to start the season. Butler is now worth an add in almost all NL-only leagues, and some deeper mixers. If Butler cannot take the ball in that game, Christian Bergman, Jon Gray or Chad Bettis could take that rotation spot.

Butler (shoulder) participated in some long toss Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Butler has already been ruled out as a candidate for the Rockies' starting rotation after exiting Sunday's spring training contest with shoulder fatigue. Following a small taste of the majors in 2014, he'll likely start the 2015 campaign back at Triple-A.

Butler (shoulder) is no longer a candidate for the starting rotation, the Denver Post reports.

While an examination did not reveal any structural damage to his shoulder, Butler will still be shut down for a minimum of two days. He could still find his way into the rotation fairly early in the year, but it now seems that Christian Bergman is a lock for one of the final two spots. Jon Gray's outcome is much less certain, as the Rockies may prefer to wait a couple of weeks to maintain an extra year of team control. If Gray doesn't open the season in the majors, Chad Bettis could fill the fifth and final rotation spot.

Butler exited Monday's spring training game early with right shoulder fatigue, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports.

Butler has been in competition for one of the starting rotation spots following the release of Jhoulys Chacin and injuries to Jorge De La Rosa (groin) and David Hale (oblique). If the issue turns out to be anything serious, Christian Bergman and Jon Gray would be two of the top candidates for the final two starting spots in the Rockies' rotation.

Butler figures to get an extended audition for a rotation spot with the Rockies over the final two weeks of spring training, MLB.com's Tracy Ringolsby reports.

The Rockies' stunning release Sunday of Jhoulys Chacin along with the uncertain health of Jorge De La Rosa (groin) for Opening Day creates as many as two vacancies for the big-league rotation, with Butler, Jon Gray, and David Hale representing the top candidates to fill the voids. Butler hasn't shined quite as brightly as fellow young gun Gray, but the right-hander has supplied a tidy 3.12 ERA and 6:3 K:BB ratio over his 8.2 Cactus League innings. Further aiding Butler's cause is his standing on the 40-man roster, a title that Gray doesn't hold. While Hale shouldn't be dismissed from the competition entirely, Butler and Gray both clearly possess the higher upside as two of the more highly regarded pitching prospects in all of baseball. Even if Butler doesn't crack the Opening Day rotation, the path is fairly clear for him to join the Rockies on a permanent basis before long.

Butler took a step back in Sunday's outing in a B-game against the Diamondbacks, surrendering five runs on eights hits and a walk over three innings.

After submitting three no-hit innings against the Dodgers his last time out, Butler didn't have his best stuff Sunday. The right-hander routinely fell behind batters in the count, as he struggled to command his fastball and commit to his changeup. Butler's inconsistent thus far in spring training virtually ensures that he'll open the year at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Butler tossed three no-hit frames against the Dodgers in Cactus League action Tuesday, allowing just one walk while striking out three batters.

Butler had a bumpy spring debut last week against the Diamondbacks, but bounced back in dominating fashion. Although the Rockies appear to be rather settled on all five rotation spots, if Butler can continue to submit performances like Tuesday's with more regularity during the spring, manager Walt Weiss could be awfully tempted to keep the right-hander with the big club to open the season.

Butler (shoulder) received an invitation to the Rockies' major league spring training camp, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

Butler and fellow top prospect Jon Gray will audition for a rotation spot with the big club, but the team's recent signing of Kyle Kendrick for their No. 5 spot appears to have closed off any legitimate competition from taking place. The 23-year-old struggled in his first exposure to the majors last summer, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 3:7 K:BB ratio over three starts (16 innings) while contending with inflammation of his right rotator cuff. Butler appears to be healthy after using the offseason to recover, but he'll more than likely have to prove his worth at Triple-A Nashville before he receives another appointment to the big leagues.

Butler's (shoulder) chances of cracking the big-league rotation out of spring training took a hit following Wednesday's signing of Kyle Kendrick, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

The addition of Kendrick gives the Rockies a veteran trio of pitchers that includes staff ace Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin, while promising youngsters Tyler Matzek and Jordan Lyles are tentatively penciled in for the final two starting spots. The seemingly full rotation will in all likelihood force Butler and fellow top prospect Jon Gray to pick up some further seasoning at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but either pitcher could earn a quick appointment to the big leagues if their dominance continues in at the highest level of the minors. Butler received his first look with the Rockies in July last season when injuries compromised the team's rotation depth, churning out a 6.75 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over three starts.

Butler (shoulder, back) will not pitch in the Arizona Fall League, MLB.com reports.

Butler was bothered by upper back and shoulder pain during his final start of 2014, but he showed up in Scottsdale, Arizona, ready to work on his pitching mechanics. However, after meeting with the training staff, it was decided he'd be better off going through a rest and rehab regimen at the team's training center. Butler also dealt with a rotator cuff strain in the middle part of the year, but his injury is not believed to be anything that could require surgery or affect him long-term.

Butler experienced shoulder soreness Sunday morning, a day after he made his final start of the season, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

The soreness is probably nothing that a few days of rest won't resolve. The Rockies still plan on having him report to the Arizona Fall League later this week.

Butler gave up five runs over 4.2 innings while taking a no-decision Saturday against the Dodgers. He scattered eight hits and three walks and struck out none.

Butler handcuffed the Dodgers through the first four innings and carried a 2-1 lead into the fifth, but a four-run spurt by the opposition knocked the right-hander out of the contest. The early returns in Butler's three-start run with the Rockies this season weren't encouraging (6.75 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, 3:7 K:BB ratio over 16 innings), but he did show an ability to induce groundballs at a high rate, which could ultimately lead to success at Coors Field. Butler will receive every opportunity in spring training to claim a permanent rotation spot for the Rockies in 2015.

Butler limited the Diamondbacks to one run over six innings Saturday to claim his first MLB victory. He scattered five hits and a walk and struck out one in the outing.

Making his first start with the Rockies since his June debut after stints on the disabled list and in the minors, Butler settled in nicely from the get-go, allowing only one batter to reach second base in the first four frames. The lone extra-base hit he surrendered was a solo homer to Jake Lamb, but he otherwise did a masterful job of yielding weak contact from the opposition. The 23-year-old is on track to make his final start of the season next Saturday against the Dodgers.

Butler is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday to start against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

The Rockies seem poised to run out a six-man rotation the last two weeks of the season, as it looks like the team's starters will simply all move back to accommodate the addition of Butler. The 23-year-old is viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in the game, but he scuffled in his MLB debut back on June 6, surrendering six runs to the Dodgers over 5.1 innings before landing on the DL with rotator cuff inflammation. It's probably best to steer clear of him in most formats, considering Saturday's start will come at Coors Field.

Butler, 23, has allowed 10 runs in three starts at Double-A Tulsa since returning from the Disabled List due to a shoulder injury.

Butler was called up to the big leagues in June, had one disastrous start, was subsequently injured and then spent over a month on the shelf. Prior to that time, he was considered one of the better pitching prospects in the game. He should get a look for the Rockies in September as they attempt to figure out their rotation plans for 2015.