De La Rosa may be forced to push back start

PHOENIX -- Three days after exiting his Tuesday start in the second inning with left thumb and index finger discomfort, Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa battled with pain throughout his bullpen session Friday at Chase Field and might need to have his scheduled start on Monday against the Cardinals pushed back.

"That's another decision we'll have to make," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He'll have to be evaluated. His hand is really bothering him."

Despite enjoying a career season, going 16-6 with a 3.49 ERA, De La Rosa's thumb has been a constant issue. He first sustained a bruised left thumb June 17 at Toronto, but he managed to pitch through it that day and held the Blue Jays scoreless on one hit through seven innings.

In every start since, De La Rosa has admitted, the injury has been a problem to some degree. The 32-year-old recently underwent an MRI that revealed a sprain.

"I just know it hurts," Weiss said. "He's gone out there for the majority of his starts with an injured hand. That says a lot about his toughness."