The Rockies’ thin starting rotation took its first big hit this week with right-hander German Marquez’s trip to the injured list for forearm inflammation, leaving Colorado without a scheduled starter for Sunday in Seattle.
Marquez insisted the inflammation, which is the same issue that ended his 2019 season in late August, “is a minor thing” and that he “just needs some rest” before getting back on the mound.
While it appears the Rockies avoided a devastating blow to their staff — whenever a pitcher points to the inner part of their elbow as Marquez did Monday night against St. Louis, alarms go off — it still leaves Colorado with a question of who will toe the rubber for the series finale at T-Mobile Park, plus a second start Marquez is likely to miss next Friday in Philadelphia.
As of Wednesday, manager Bud Black said the Rockies “are still working through those things.” But the club doesn’t have many in-house options unless a 40-man roster move is made.
Right-handers Noah Davis and Peter Lambert are the most likely candidates. Of the pitching prospects on the 40-man roster, Davis and Lambert are the only starters. Black mentioned Lambert and fellow Triple-A Albuquerque right-hander Karl Kauffmann as candidates for the call-up. But Kauffmann pitched six innings Wednesday for the Isotopes and isn’t on the 40-man.
Meanwhile, Black said Lambert was scheduled to pitch Thursday night, but Jeff Criswell got the start instead. Lambert hasn’t gone past the third inning in either of his two starts.
Black said Lambert, who had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and then missed much of last year with additional elbow issues, has put his injuries behind him and is ready to be treated like a “regular player.” He has a 7.48 ERA in 21 career starts.
“He’s past the rehab, he’s past all the other (limitations) in bouncing back from his injuries,” Black said. “Now it’s just building his pitch count and performing… He’s a guy trying to get back to the big leagues.”
Because of Thursday’s off-day, Colorado could also potentially skip Marquez’s turn in the rotation Sunday, moving Kyle Freeland up to that slot, but the Rockies would eventually have to plug that rotational hole sometime next week unless Marquez only misses one start.
That leaves Lambert (last pitched Sunday) and Davis (last pitched Tuesday) as the most rested candidates.
Davis debuted in the season finale last year and allowed two runs in one inning.
The 25-year-old, who came to Colorado in a deadline deal in 2021 when the Reds traded him and right-hander Case Williams in exchange for reliever Mychal Givens, has a 4.26 ERA in three Triple-A starts this year. Davis was 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA in five Cactus League games (four starts) this spring.
Whomever the Rockies call on will be tasked with propping up a rotation that has a huge-drop off after Marquez and co-staff ace Freeland. Austin Gomber, Jose Urena and Ryan Feltner have all been inconsistent. Freeland, who sports a glitzy 0.96 ERA through three starts, said Marquez’s departure won’t change his mindset on the mound.
“There’s not going to be any more pressure on myself to try to pick up that slack, because I’m not pitching on his day,” Freeland said. “It’s so early in the season right now, with so many games to play, so I’m not feeling down about (Marquez’s injury). Considering what happened, that’s the best possible news we could’ve gotten.
“Now for me, I’m off to a good start, but it’s about breaking through that final ceiling of getting into the seventh inning, the eighth inning, 90-plus pitches and getting to 100 to really take it to the next level.”
While the Rockies duct-tape their rotation with Marquez on the shelf, a pair of starters are getting closer to returning from injury. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela is pitching in an extended spring training game Friday as he continues to get back to full strength from last season’s ACL injury. And southpaw Ryan Rolison, returning from shoulder surgery, is ready for game situations at extended spring training as well.
So reinforcements are on the horizon. But until then, Black is going to have to hand the ball to a young, unproven starter.
