Colorado Rockies injury news: What we know about German Marquez

DENVER — For the Colorado Rockies, an injury to starting pitcher German Márquez would be among the most devastating scenarios for the team early in the season. On Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals, that scenario came to life, but the Rockies could have potentially dodged the serious injury bullet in the Mile High City.

Márquez, Colorado’s Opening Day starter and one of two frontline pitchers (along with Kyle Freeland) who have paced the Rockies rotation early in the season, left Monday’s game with forearm tightness that occurred as he was making his warmup tosses prior to the sixth inning.

Until the time of his injury, Márquez was piecing together a solid outing against the visiting Cardinals, limiting them to three hits and two runs in 5.0 innings. Colorado was leading 4-2 at the time and would go on to record a 7-4 decision in the opener of the three-game series. Márquez earned the win, passing Jeff Francis for the third-most victories in franchise history with 65.

Colorado Rockies potentially have decisions to make around German Márquez injury

Following the game, Colorado manager Bud Black described the injury as tightness in the mid-forearm, saying that the right-hander was taken out of the game for “precautionary reasons.

“We hope he’s going to be fine. We think he is,” Black said. “We’re going to reevaluate and see how it is tomorrow and the next day. He did the right thing. He let us know it was a little tight and we took him out.”

Marquez said that he started feeling some tightness in the fourth inning, but it was the sixth where catcher Elias Diaz motioned to trainers to come check on the pitcher and stop throwing.

“He started moving his arm and I saw his face and I said, ‘No, there’s something wrong here,” Diaz said. “That’s why I came to the mound and asked him how he was feeling. He said he felt a little tight and I said, ‘Okay, let’s stop here.'”

Marquez missed time in 2019 with right arm inflammation, but he told reporters after the game that this was not the same feeling as that issue, adding that there was pain associated with the injury in 2019. He also added that he was not sure if he thought he would need to miss his next scheduled start, adding Tuesday’s diagnosis might give hints toward that answer.

What could come next for Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez

The best scenario is that Marquez would make his next start, scheduled for Sunday in Seattle in the finale of a three-game series against the Mariners. But what happens should Marquez need to miss one or more starts?

In the immediate future, should Marquez need to miss a start, the team could look to stretch out Connor Seabold or Ty Blach into a starting role from a long reliever spot. Both have experience as starters and, if shifted temporarily to the rotation, a place in the Colorado bullpen could open up if Marquez is moved to the injured list.

Antonio Senzatela is working his way back from an ACL injury and is scheduled to take part in an extended spring training game soon. Senzatela has been expected to return to the Colorado rotation sometime in May, so there could be an answer to Colorado’s lack of pitching depth lurking for the Rockies down the road.

We will be at Coors Field on Tuesday and will update this story as news becomes available.

UPDATE FROM TUESDAY: “Like a lot of pitchers, they’re sore the next day,” Black told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re going to send German over to have his arm looked at, MRI. Just to leave any doubt with what’s going on.”

Black said the Rockies would know more on Wednesday, but reiterated, “I think he’s going to be okay. I do. I really do, and so does he.”

FURTHER UPDATE: MLB.com is reporting that Marquez did not suffer any major damage but rather is dealing with a strain. It’s unknown if he will be available for his next start.