MLB Report Marquez & Freeland top duo in club history
German Marquez is a 23yearold righthander from San Felix, Venezuela. He throws 95 mph fastballs with wicked movement that set up his nasty curveball and a beastly slider. He’s struck out 221 batters this season, setting a franchise record.
Kyle Freeland is a 25yearold Colorado Native. The lefty paints the black with a fastball, cutters and sliders. He finished Friday night’s game against the Nationals with an eightgame winning streak. It is the longest streak by a Rockies starting pitcher since Ubaldo Jiménez won a club record nine in a row in 2010.
Marquez is fire. Freeland is ice. Together they form the best onetwo punch in Rockies history. What’s more, if they stay healthy, they’ll provide a franchise foundation for seasons to come.
It’s been amazing to witness their education and evolution over the last two seasons.
I could wax poetic about the dynamic duo, or toss out some amazing statistics, such as:
•Freeland is 91 with a 2.49 ERA with Colorado winning 12 of the 14 starts since the Allstar break. During that stretch, he’s limited lefthanded hitters to a .094 batting average (5for53).
•Freeland is fourth in the National League with a 2.85 ERA. Among lefthanded starters, his ERA is the lowest in the NL.
•Since July 11, Marquez has pitched seven consecutive quality starts at Coors Field, going 41 with a 1.90 ERA, 68 strikeouts and only 10 walks.
•Marquez has posted 12 consecutive quality starts, tied with Jimenez in 2009 for the secondlongest, singleseason streak in franchise history (Jimenez hold the record of 15, from April 5June 17, 2010).
But a moretelling perspective on Freeland and Marquez comes from their teammates.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who for years has been waiting for this kind of starting pitching, is crazy about both of them, for different reasons.
“Kyle wants the ball, that’s always the easiest thing to say about him,” Arenado said. “But when I think about Kyle, I think intensity. He’s very intense out there — on the mound, hitting, in between starts, working out. He’s a pretty intense player. I love that. I get intense sometimes too, so I really love that about him.” And Marquez? “He’s dominant, and he’s different from Kyle,” Arenado said. “Freeland doesn’t have the ‘velo’ like Marquez. But Freeland, he’s smart. He can read swings and understands how he needs to throw his pitches. Marquez can go out there and dominate teams with his stuff. He’s that good.”
Righthander Jon Gray, 26, who’s struggled to harness his own talents since the Rockies selected him as the third overall draft pick in 2013, can’t help but admire the twosome that’s carried the Rockies on their shoulders.
“A lot of Kyle’s success comes from his being ag gressive,” Gray said. “With Kyle, it’s always on, 100 percent. All the time, in whatever he does. I’ve seen him like that out on golf course. He’s the same way.
“I think that’s so cool. I wish I could do that. I hope I get to the point where I can. For Kyle, I think it comes naturally.”
When I asked Gray about Marquez, he got a glint in his eye and said, “That arm’s golden. It’s just ridiculous. And they way he’s bounced back from some tough moments, I’m really proud of him. You see what he’s done the second half of this season? Oh my gosh, watch out.”
Patrick Saunders: psaunders @denverpost. com or @psaunders dp