Marquez named opening day starter
Germán Márquez stuck a “feather in his cap” and then went out and mowed down the Brewers Friday afternoon.
The Rockies’ veteran righthander was informed by manager Bud Black that he will pitch on opening day against the Padres on Thursday at San Diego. It will be his third start on opening day, the most in franchise history.
“It means a lot to me,” Márquez told reporters at spring training. “I’ve been working really hard. I’m so happy and I’m excited to be pitching the first game.”
Lefty Kyle Freeland, a Denver native, will pitch Game 2 vs. the Padres and then start the home opener against the Nationals on April 6 at Coors Field.
Black, who believes Márquez is primed for a comeback season, knows that pitching the opener is a big deal.
“It’s a great feather in the cap to be named the openingday starter,” Black told reporters at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Márquez celebrated by dominating the Brewers for six innings in Colorado’s 9- 4 win, giving up one run on three hits (including a solo homer to Garrett Mitchell) while striking out seven and walking none. Márquez finished his Cactus League stint with an 0.53 ERA, 20 strikeouts and just two walks over 17 innings.
“I feel like my delivery is good and I can make the pitches when I need to,” he said.
Márquez had one rocky spring outing, giving up two runs in three innings against Mexico in a World Baseball Classic exhibition, but said that he was focused on pitching inside and was not concerned about that performance.
Márquez was a first-time AllStar in 2021 but pitched poorly last season, finishing with a 4.95 ERA across 31 starts, his highest ERA for any full season of his career. In 16 starts at Coors Field, he was 2- 6 with a 6.70 ERA, and opponents hit .317 with 19 homers against him.
Black hopes Márquez has put that behind him.
“If spring training is any indication, he’s in a good spot,” Black said. “… It speaks for itself.”