Marquez to start Sunday’s Game 3

MILWAUKEE» Ahead of Game 2 of the National League division series, Rockies manager Bud Black laid out the club’s pitching plans for Sunday and Monday’s scheduled playoff games at Coors Field.

Righthander German Marquez (1411, 3.77 ERA) will toe the rubber on Sunday for Game 3, and lefthander Kyle Freeland (177, 2.85) will pitch Game 4 on Monday, if necessary, as the Rockies carry an 02 deficit going into Sunday’s game at Coors Field.

“(Marquez’s) day lined up, even though Kyle’s on regular days rest,” Black said. “We felt that was the move. Marquez and Freeland, they’ve both pitched (well in that order) in the last number of weeks. And that gives Kyle an extra day’s rest after the shortrest start (in Tuesday’s wildcard game).”

While that logic adds up, it’s hard not to wonder whether Black will change his mind and throw Freeland on Sunday with Colorado facing elimination down 20 in the series.

Freeland has owned Coors Field this season with a club record 2.40 ERA in 15 home outings, and has been far and away the team’s most clutch starter. It would be a tough pill for Colorado to swallow should Marquez start Game 3 and the Rockies end up getting swept without Freeland ever pitching in the series, especially following his stellar performance of sixplus shutout innings in the wildcard win over the Cubs.

Lefthander Wade Miley (52, 2.57 ERA) will start Game 3 for Milwaukee. Colorado has fared decently against Miley historically, hitting .293 (34for116) with a home run apiece by Ian Desmond, Carlos Gonzalez, Trevor Story and Matt Holliday.

In Miley’s lone start against them this season, a 54 Colorado win at Coors Field on Aug. 5, the Rockies tagged him for three runs on five hits in five innings.