Márquez placed on IL with right forearm inflammation

Márquez placed on IL with right forearm inflammation

April 12th, 2023

DENVER -- Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez said the outcome of Tuesday’s MRI -- a strained right forearm but no structural damage -- left him relieved, but he nonetheless expected to go to the 15-day injured list. That expectation was fulfilled on Wednesday afternoon, when he was placed on the 15-day IL with right forearm inflammation, with infielder/outfielder recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Márquez (2-1, 4.41 ERA in three starts) was removed after five innings Monday night after pointing to his forearm. He earned the win in a 7-4 victory over the Cardinals at Coors Field.

Márquez’s will rest the arm for a few days, meanings he will need time to work his arm back to game condition. The Rockies are off Thursday but play the following 13 days and will need to fill Márquez’s rotation spot.

“Nothing bad, just inflammation,” Márquez said. “They’re going to give me a little bit of time to rest.”

Early struggles last season led to a subpar performance: 9-13, 4.95 ERA in 31 starts. But adjustments to better spot and control his two-seam and four-seam fastballs have paid off this year. Two of his three starts were stellar, and in between he was competitive in a loss at Dodger Stadium The Rockies need him to return to his 2021 All-Star form, and signs have been good.

The Rockies have a thin enough rotation without losing Márquez, but he and the Rockies have financial implications, too. Márquez is in the final year of a five-year, $43 million contract, although the club holds a $16 million option for 2024 (or a $2.5 million buyout).

Márquez has been healthy most of his career, but he was shut down in late August 2019 with a similar injury, with the pain reaching the elbow. He said the current pain is similar but not as intense.

Tuesday’s MRI results lessen the fear on all counts.

“I have a pretty good feeling about this, just talking to Germán, and where the soreness was,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It puts Germán at ease, and us. Our medical staff knew this might be the result of the MRI -- more positive.”