Bud Black does not get to see many of the candidates he is considering to fill an empty spot in the Rockies’ pitching rotation, at least up close. But he can see the numbers. And he likes how German Marquez adds up.
“You saw the nine punch in four-plus,” Black said Saturday. “That’s a good ratio.”
Marquez, a 22-year-old right-hander who debuted last season, is the leading candidate to fill out Colorado’s rotation in the spot left vacant by Jon Gray. Marquez started the season on the Rockies roster, in the bullpen, but never appeared. He could be back as soon as Tuesday after Gray broke his foot April 13 at San Francisco.
In three starts for Triple-A Albuquerque, Marquez breezed through his assignments, steadily building back his pitch count. He has 18 strikeouts and no walks in 10 innings. Against Reno on Thursday, he struck out nine and gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
“Good reports,” Black said of Marquez. “Threw the ball well. Used the curveball. It was effective.”
Marquez is lined up to pitch Tuesday on regular rest, not coincidentally the same day the Rockies need a starter to face the Nationals at Coors Field. And Marquez’s competition for the spot seems to be dwindling.
Jeff Hoffman, the tall 24-year-old right hander, pitched to mixed results Friday against Reno, giving up six runs on eight hits in six innings. He is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA with the Isotopes this season over 31 1/3 innings.
“Jeff needs innings. He needs to have a good outing from first inning to last,” Black said. “The curveball has been a little inconsistent. We worked on some delivery stuff in spring and really made a point to get a handle on it, which he did. Now it’s a matter of repetition. He needs reps and starts and innings to continue to fine-tune his game.”
Dahl back in action. Outfielder David Dahl returned to Colorado’s clubhouse late Friday night, arriving at Coors Field in the eighth inning of the Rockies’ 6-5 victory over the Giants. He was eager to be back. A positive MRI scan earlier in the day showed his injured rib, on the right side near his back, had healed.
“I start to get to be more of a real baseball player,” Dahl said. He will start to throw and lift weights, and will soon hit off a tee, then take batting practice.
Story’s grand hit. Black hopes Trevor Story‘s grand slam Friday will help him out of an early-season slump (.143 average, 26 strikeouts in 56 at-bats before Saturday). “That pitch was down and out over the plate,” Black said. “He went down and got it, nice swing, didn’t pull off it, stayed on it, got underneath it and squared it up. It looks like he’s seeing the ball really well.”
Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-3, 6,16) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 4.91), Sunday 1:10 p.m., ROOT, 850 AM
Three of Freeeland’s first four major-league starts will come at Coors Field, a tough assignment to begin a career. But he’s making it work. The Denver native won his debut in the Rockies’ home-opening win over the Dodgers. Then they won behind Freeland last week in Los Angeles (he got a no-decision). But his pitch count ran high in that last outing, hitting 87 before Bud Black pulled him before the fifth inning. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is nearly one for one (11 Ks, 9 BBs) and remains something the 23-year-old lefty needs to improve. Nick Groke, The Denver Post
Monday: Nationals RHP Joe Ross (1-0, 3.86) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.32), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 2.89) at Rockies TBA, 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (2-0, 3.65) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 4.10), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
