Snell, Marquez earn Pitcher of Month honors
Rays left-hander Blake Snell might have locked up the American League Cy Young Award with his dominant September, and Rockies righty German Marquez emerged as a potential star last month, helping Colorado down the stretch to secure a postseason berth. It was a memorable stretch for each, and Snell and Marquez were named AL and National League Pitchers of the Month, respectively, on Monday.
Snell went 5-0 with a 1.26 ERA across 35 2/3 innings while holding batters to a .171 clip to help the Rays finish with a 90-72 record. Snell also tied the Indians' Carlos Carrasco for the MLB high with 53 strikeouts.
Less than a year removed from a Minor League demotion, Snell set the Rays' franchise record with 21 wins, and he notched nine of those in a row without a loss (with a no-decision in between) that also marked a franchise record. At the ripe age of 25, Snell joined Dwight Gooden (1985), Vida Blue ('71), Denny McLain ('68), Dave McNally ('68), Dean Chance ('64) and Hal Newhouser ('45) as the only pitchers that young to record at least 20 wins and an ERA below 2.00.
Marquez went 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA over 33 2/3 innings and pitched the Rockies to critical wins over the Giants, D-backs and Phillies that helped Colorado clinch a playoff berth for the second straight year, which is a first in franchise history. Marquez will start Monday's Game 163 at Dodger Stadium to determine the NL West winner.