Tulowitzki sits out with stiff lower back

The Colorado Rockies were without smooth-fielding shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Tuesday against Cincinnati after his back stiffened up.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Tulowitzki is day-to-day.

"Until we can get him loose and back up, we cannot afford to push the envelope on that," Tracy said. "Not with the situation he's dealing with."

Tulowitzki left the game in the seventh inning the day before after straining his back on a game-tying single.

Clint Barmes will slide over and fill in for Tulowitzki at shortstop Tuesday, while Eric Young Jr. takes Barmes' spot at second.

The Rockies also scratched third baseman Ian Stewart from the lineup after he arrived at the ballpark with a stiff back. Tracy isn't sure if Stewart will be available to pinch hit.

Tulowitzki leads all major league shortstops with 24 homers this season.

Although the Rockies lead the NL wild-card race, Tracy said he wouldn't rush Tulowitzki into the lineup until the back fully loosens up.

"When you talk about the low back and think about all the different things that a baseball player is involved in during the course of a game — bending over to field balls, diving for balls, sliding, running from home to first, first to third, second to home, he's got to be right," Tracy said. "When (the back) does let go, he's going to get immediate relief. Until it does, he's going to be stiff and sore.

"His mobility, it's not even good enough to think about or talk about him being utilized. We've got to get the spasms to let go. That's what we're working on."