Colorado Rockies: Who should really replace Jon Gray? Bullpen or rookie?

Personally, my first choice is Chris Rusin. After Gray left the game against the Giants following the third inning, Rusin came in and only gave up two hits and one run in 3.1 innings.

Rusin has experience as a starter. In the 83 games he has pitched in, 49 of them have come as a starter. Granted he did struggle as a starter, going 10-23 with a 5.19 ERA in his career.

I do think that he would be able to fill in that role until Gray returns. He has had good production as a reliever, going 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his career. He would just have to learn to continue that production into six or seven innings rather than three or four.

Another possible candidate that could come out of the bullpen to fill Gray’s spot in the starting rotation is Jordan Lyles.

Unlike Rusin, Lyles has struggled to begin the 2017 season. Heading into Sunday, he had pitched 10.2 innings and has given up 16 hits and 11 runs with a 9.28 ERA. Unfortunately, we all know what happened when Lyles entered the game in Arizona on Sunday.

However, he has 102 games of pitching experience as a starter. As a starter, his production is very similar to Rusin’s going 24-39 with a 5.15 ERA.

Neither Rusin or Lyles are ideal in this situation, then again when is it ever ideal to find a replacement for your ace? If the Rockies want to stay with their current roster, those two guys are their best options.

Colorado has already seemingly filled Gray’s absence with German Marquez. In two starts since bringing him up from Triple-A Albuquerque, Marquez is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. The verdict has been split so far. He looked shaky giving up eight runs in four innings against Washington but looked solid with six shutout innings against Arizona on Sunday.

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It follows a trend from last season where Marquez had looked good in two starts but blew up in a third. Consistency has been a trouble spot for the young right-hander.

Personally, I don’t agree with Colorado’s decision of bringing Marquez up. I believe they should have stayed with their current roster rather than throwing Marquez into the fire, even though he has shown promise in Triple-A.

Marquez will get another chance to prove himself when the Rockies return home this weekend to face the Arizona Diamondbacks.

If things don’t go well again for him, I think the Rockies will have to look at other options. What about Jeff Hoffman, who has shown flashes of brilliance in Triple-A? Could Rusin be given a chance to hold the position until Gray returns?

Another possibility is letting Rusin start while sliding Marquez over into Rusin’s spot in the bullpen as a long reliever.

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There are many options the Rockies can play with until Gray’s return. The Rockies just need to find a way to survive the next couple of weeks with their ace out of the lineup, whether that’s a young star trying to prove himself or a couple of starters turned relievers looking for a second chance.