German Marquez didn’t begin his season well, but the veteran right-hander has been one of the bright spots for the lowly Colorado Rockies.
Marquez had an ERA of 12.81 in April, and a big reason for that was the seven runs he gave up in less than an inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his fourth start of the year.
Los Angeles will see an improved Marquez on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series in Denver. The Dodgers have not announced a starter for the game but Marquez (3-8, 6.11 ERA) is slated to face them for the second time this season.
Marquez has improved his fortunes since April, with only two poor outings in his last seven starts. Since giving up five earned runs to Arizona on May 17, he has allowed three or fewer in five of his last six starts.
He tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings at Washington on Wednesday and has dropped his ERA from 9.82 at the beginning of May to 6.11 heading into his start against the Dodgers.
“His past six outings have been his best six-outing stretch of his career, ERA-wise,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Whatever he’s doing, continue doing it.”
Schaeffer said Marquez has used his curveball more of late and that has helped him.
“His curveball is his best secondary pitch,” Schaeffer said. “It’s above the slider, so he’s been going to that more often because it’s his better pitch and he’s more comfortable with it.”
Marquez has faced the Dodgers 18 times in his career, going 3-6 with a 4.36 ERA in those starts. At home against Los Angeles, he is 0-2 with a 4.89 ERA in eight outings.
He’ll face a lineup that is coming off a 13-7 win against the Nationals on Sunday. Los Angeles has won seven of its last nine to complete a 7-3 homestand and starts a six-game road trip at the Rockies.
The Dodgers swept the first series between the teams in April and have won seven straight against Colorado. Los Angeles was 10-3 against its National League West rival in 2024 and has dominated the series over the years.
Although Colorado won’t bat against Shohei Ohtani during this series, the reigning NL MVP is returning to the two-way form that has made him the most unique player in the majors.
Ohtani pitched an inning on Sunday, the second time he has done that since his return to the mound, and he continues to produce at the plate. He had five RBIs against Washington and hit his NL-leading 26th home run after striking out two Nationals batters to start off his day.
“I’ve seen bullpens and lives and simulated games, or whatever,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s game, “but to watch it in real time, to go from the mound to the on-deck circle and then go to the batter’s box, pretty remarkable. He’s just handling it the right way, and he’s just unflappable.”
–Field Level Media
