Eddie Butler Remains in Rotation, Gets Extra Day of Rest

It was pretty clear from his Cubs debut this past Friday that Eddie Butler had the stuff to become a mainstay in the Cubs’ rotation. Despite spotty control that may have been the result of adrenaline, the righty flashed 96, 97 mph with nice arm-side run on the four-seamer and worked his slider, curve, and change in to force the Cardinals into weak contact.

After the game he said he intended to keep his spot, and it’s looking like he’ll do exactly that…for at least one more turn through. Though no long-term decisions have been made yet, the Tribune’s Mark Gonzales reports that Butler will be pushed back to Friday in order to allow Jon Lester to pitch on normal rest Thursday in Cincinnati.

Butler said he’s use the extra time off to tune up the slider in particular, saying that offering tended to get a little “big” for him in his first Cubs start. He’s probably going to have to pitch through another adrenaline dump, though, as Friday will represent his Cubs home debut.

It’s not just the new guy who’s getting an extra day, either. Butler being flipped with Lester means that Jake Arrieta will also be going on an extra day of rest, which isn’t a bad idea after the stretch he’s had to open the season.