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Rockies place one-time All-Star starting pitcher on IL
Rockies place one-time All-Star starting pitcher on IL,German Marquez, who exited Tuesday’s game due to forearm discomfort, avoided any structural damage it seems. An MRI revealed only inflammation in his ailing forearm, but he’ll still be shelved for a bit to allow for some rest.

Rockies place one-time All-Star starting pitcher on IL

The Rockies are placing righty German Marquez on the 15-day injured list, Marquez himself told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game (Twitter link via Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette). Marquez, who exited Tuesday’s game due to forearm discomfort, avoided any structural damage it seems. An MRI revealed only inflammation in his ailing forearm, but he’ll still be shelved for a bit to allow for some rest. A more precise timetable for his recovery has not yet been provided by the team. Corner infielder/outfielder Nolan Jones has been recalled from Triple-A to take Marquez’s spot on the active roster for now.

Marquez and lefty Kyle Freeland have been the Rockies’ only two effective starters thus far in the season, and an absence for him will place even further strain on a starting staff that has combined for a 5.07 ERA in its first 60 1/3 frames. Lefty Austin Gomber and righties Ryan Feltner and Jose Urena have combined to allow 24 runs in 25 1/3 innings over their collective six starts so far in 2023.

The Rockies’ options beyond Marquez are relatively thin. Antonio Senzatela is already on the injured list while rehabbing from last year’s ACL tear, and southpaw Ryan Rolison is rehabbing from last summer’s shoulder surgery. Relievers Ty Blach and Connor Seabold are both stretched out for multiple innings already, and both have experience as starters. Triple-A righties Peter Lambert and Noah Davis are on the 40-man roster. Lambert has missed significant time due to injury in recent years and hasn’t had much success at the big league level. Davis has just one major league frame under his belt.

Marquez has been the team’s most consistent starter since 2017, pitching to a cumulative 4.38 ERA in 991 1/3 frames over 169 starts during that time. He’s been one of the game’s most durable starters in that stretch, ranking fourth among all MLB pitchers in terms of games started.

Marquez is playing out the final guaranteed season of a five-year, $43M contract extension he agreed to back in April 2019. He’s earning a $15M salary this season, and the Rox hold a $16M club option over him with a $2.5M buyout. So long as he’s healthy, that option seems like a fairly straightforward decision to exercise.