Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals: 5 players to watch

Carlos Martinez

Martinez was supposed to be the ace of the St. Louis rotation heading into the season. He certainly lived up to that billing on Opening Night against the World Champion Chicago Cubs, throwing 7.1 shutout innings. After that, however, it was an April to forget for the 25-year-old right-hander.

Colorado Rockies

Martinez ended April with an 0-3 record and 4.71 ERA in five starts. Part of the problem was a lack of control as he walked 14 batters in 28.2 innings.

However, when it comes to Martinez, that was then and this is now. Since the calendar flipped to May, he has a 3-0 mark and 1.86 ERA in four starts. He has struck out 23 in 29 innings of work while walking just eight. In his last outing against the San Francisco Giants, Martinez crafted a complete game masterpiece where he allowed just two hits and no runs. And he did all of that in just 93 pitches.

Opponents are hitting just .158 against him in May so he will pose a challenge to a Rockies lineup that has been red hot in recent games.

He will face Colorado rookie sensation Antonio Senzatela (6-1, 3.67 ERA) in the series opener on Friday night. That should be billed as a marquee pitching matchup in Major League Baseball that night.