Márquez concerned about right elbow ailment

DENVER -- Placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with right elbow inflammation, Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez hopes the rest of the story doesn't develop into even worse news.

The inflammation diagnosis came from an MRI conducted in Denver by Dr. Thomas J. Noonan, the Rockies’ medical director. But he will conduct a follow-up exam on Monday to make sure there isn’t the type of ligament damage that requires Tommy John surgery.

“I am [worried] but I don’t know yet -- I have to get more options,” Márquez said. “We’ll see.”

Márquez, 28, left a home start against the Cardinals on April 10 after five innings and was diagnosed with inflammation in the forearm. The issue was in the middle of the forearm – about the best that could be hoped. He returned Wednesday against the Guardians, but felt pain once again.

After the immediate exam in Cleveland, the belief was the problem was in Márquez’s lower triceps. But he was reexamined by Noonan more extensively during the team’s day off Thursday.

After being hurt and returning in 16 days, the logical speculation is Márquez returned too soon. But after initial treatment, Márquez played catch days later, had a bullpen session Sunday in Philadelphia and felt no reason to delay his return.

“I didn’t feel anything before the game, so I felt like I was ready,” Márquez said.

Manager Bud Black said there was no reason to doubt that Márquez felt ready, but “with arms and elbows, you never know.”

Since breaking in with the Rockies in the 2016 season and becoming a key part of rotations that helped bring postseason appearances in 2017 and 2018, Márquez has 983 career strikeouts -- two behind Jorge De La Rosa for the club record. His 65 wins are third in club history behind De La Rosa (86) and Aaron Cook (72). He is the best starting pitcher in team history in a couple key pitching categories: WHIP (1.283) and walks per nine innings (2.675).

Beyond a shutdown at the end of 2019, Márquez has been healthy. He has never had an arm operation. After struggling last season (9-13, 4.95 ERA) he returned this year having made adjustments that allowed some of the earlier career power to return. His ERA sits at the same 4.95 last year, but that was after being charged with three runs in Wednesday’s short outing. The earlier work was strong, even though he dealt with discomfort between starts.

“You saw my Spring Training. It was nice,” said Márquez, who wonders if some of the improvements he made led to the pain. “And my first games, I felt good. But it’s hard to pitch like this.”

Màrquez is in the final year of a five-year, $43 million contract, although the Rockies hold a $16 million club option with a $2.5 million buyout.

The Rockies called up righty Connor Seabold to work out of the bullpen, at least initially. Seabold began the year in the Rockies’ bullpen, and made one start at Triple-A Albuquerque after being sent down.

Because the team is off Monday, Black said the Rockies don’t need another starter until next weekend’s road series against the Mets.

On Sunday, righty Antonio Senzatela -- out since last August because of left ACL surgery -- will make his second rehab start for Albuquerque, scheduled for 75 to 90 pitches.

Senzatela could return to the Rockies’ rotation next Friday with four days’ rest -- which would allow the current four starters (Kyle Freeland, Noah Davis, Austin Gomber and Ryan Feltner) an extra day's rest for that turn. The other option is starting Gomber next Friday on regular rest and insert Senzatela next Saturday.