Fantasy Baseball: Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez is worth a look
The Colorado Rockies starting rotation is comprised of three rookies at the moment, and somehow they just keep placing tallies in the win column. From a fantasy baseball perspective there is certainly some intrigue surrounding yesterday's starter German Marquez after he shut down the defending champs.
With Jon Gray on the disabled list and Tyler Anderson struggling mightily through his first seven starts to the tune of a 6.69 ERA, the trio of Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland are carrying the team at the moment. On Wednesday it was Marquez that shut out the Chicago Cubs and their fourth-ranked run-socring offense in the altitude that encompasses Coors Field. For fantasy baseball folks, it may be time to start looking to add pitchers from the Colorado Rockies, a big no-no for years now, in order to get the jump on the competition.
Yesterday Marquez went eight innings, gave up three hits and a walk while striking out eight. To be fair, this is just his second big league win and first of 2017, but a performance in altitude like that is hard to look away from. The eight scoreless frames lowered his ERA to 4.88, but again we're looking forward here.
This season Marquez has made four starts, the first of which is why is ERA is so darn high. Remember that scoring rampage that the Washington Nationals went on to close out April? Marquez was one of their many victims that week, lasting just four frames and giving up eight earned.
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In his second start in Arizona, he shut down the Diamondbacks and the ninth-ranked offense in baseball, totaling six scoreless innings, giving up six hits, two walks (one intentional) and striking out eight. He faced those same D-Backs in his third start and they laid five earned on him in six innings, but it's not unusual for a team to have a better outing against the same pitcher just five days later, especially one with little big league experience. His fourth start was on Wednesday against the Cubs.
So what we're seeing here is a pitcher that can shut down the opposition, but that can also get batted around a bit. That said, in his last three starts, he has totaled 20 innings pitched, a 2.25 ERA, struck out 19 and held a WHIP of 1.00. Take out the first start against one of the best teams in baseball at their peak while filling in for the team's ace (no pressure) and we have another Rockies rook that can provide plenty of value to your fantasy baseball team moving forward.
His next start should come on the road in Minnesota on Tuesday, then the following Sunday in Cincinnati, making him a two start pitcher for the week. The Twins offense ranks 20th in runs scored and 16th in strikeout percentage while the Reds rank 3rd and 24th. The first start of the week would be a good time to plug in German Marquez, while the Sunday start could depend on how the rest of the week has gone for your fantasy baseball team. If you need the strikeouts and can give up a little in ERA and perhaps WHIP, then he's definitely a go.
Marquez is owned in just 0.8% of ESPN leagues, so scoop him him as you prepare for next week. As for the other two Colorado Rockies rookie rotation members, Antonio Senzatela (5-1, 2.86, 4.9 K/9, 1.068 WHIP) is owned in 57.5% of ESPN leagues, while Freeland (3-2, 2.93, 5.9 K/9, 1.325 WHIP) is owned in 16.6% of ESPN leagues.
While Senzatela has been garnering the early headlines this season and has slotted into the Rockies' ace vacancy, Marquez is the one to rely on if you need to accumulate some strikeouts and is a solid buy-low candidate. The one problem moving forward could be the return of Jon Gray, who is going to kick someone out of the rotation, and while Tyler Anderson has struggled this season, he is the more experienced of the two and should get a little more leash to work with. Add Marquez, talk him up amongst your league mates, keep an eye on Jon Gray's health and see if you can flip him at the right time.
