Colorado Rockies: German Marquez, starters impressing early

The four starting pitchers for the Colorado Rockies have put together quite a string of starts in the first five games of the season.

That includes German Marquez, who threw his second gem of the young season on Wednesday afternoon as the Colorado Rockies wrapped up a two-game series (and five-game road opener to start the season) in Oakland against the Athletics.

After taking a no-hit bid into the sixth inning in his Opening Day start against the Texas Rangers, the 25-year-old right-hander impressed again on Wednesday in Oakland. Marquez allowed just four hits in six innings of work under the bright California sun. His only run allowed against the A’s was on a neck-high fastball that Oakland slugger Matt Chapman went up and took just to the top of the left-center fence for a home run.

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In the 95 pitches Marquez threw on Wednesday, 66 went for strikes. That includes the first six of the game that resulted in two quick strikeouts, setting the tone for what would be a dominant day by the Bay as he would register eight strikeouts while walking just one batter. Those eight strikeouts were the most ever registered for Marquez in an interleague game.

"“Today was good. Everything was sharp,” Marquez said after helping the Rockies move to 4-1 on the season. “They (A’s) are a good team. I had to mix it up pretty good. When my fastball command is there, my pitches are going to be there too.”"

Marquez has set the tone for Colorado’s rotation in 2020. Through the first five games of the 2020 season, Colorado’s rotation that includes Marquez, Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Antonio Senzatela, holds a collective 2.31 ERA. That includes the 1.54 ERA that Marquez owns through his first 11.2 frames of the campaign. That four-man rotation that has showed such swagger early on will likely stay intact until at least the first Monday of August, when the Rockies could collectively debut a fifth starter for the first time this year.

"“I’m so happy those guys are good. It’s a good feeling,” Marquez said of the rotation’s early success."

Next. Jon Gray talks about his new pitch and its impact early on. dark

By the way, Colorado’s bullpen has a cumulative 1.08 ERA.

In a season where so many had question marks about Colorado’s starting pitching, those questions have (so far at least) been answered in a very positive way. Through the first five games of the season, Colorado pitching hasn’t surrendered more than three runs in any single contest.

Critics will also point out those questions have also been answered away from altitude. After an off day on Thursday, Colorado makes its home debut against the San Diego Padres on Friday night and the starters will have the chance to continue making an impact on Colorado’s chances at reaching the postseason.

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