COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
• The Colorado Rockies conclude their opening road trip of the 2023 season with the second game of a two-game series at Dodger Stadium tonight … the Rockies have lost three in a row after opening the season with back-to-back wins in San Diego.
• The Rockies dropped last night’s opener in Los Angeles 13-4 … were up 4-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning before allowing seven runs with two outs and no one on base, the first time in franchise history that Colorado allowed seven runs with two out and none on.
• After opening the season with two straight wins the Ro
• The Rockies return home to Coors Field on Thursday for their Home Opener against the Washington Nationals … will play four against the Nationals and three against the St. Louis Cardinals to begin the 2023 home slate.
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN
• Sunday’s game time of 2:03 breaks in as the 12th-shortest game in Rockies’ history, the shortest since a 1:58 time of game on July 1, 2008 … in that contest, Aaron Cook tossed a 79-pitch complete-game shutout against the Padres at Coors Field, one of only nine CGSO tossed at Coors Field at the time.
• The shortest game in franchise history came on June 30, 2006 at Seattle when the Rockies topped the Mariners 2-0 in 1:52.
• Through five games the Rockies have an average game time of 2:34, four minutes below the league average of 2:38 … through the first five games of last season, the Rockies’ average game time was 3:16.
THE BLUES
• The Rockies went 8-11 against the Dodgers in 2022, including a 3-6 record at Dodger Stadium and a 3-3 record in a six-game series in Los Angeles to end the regular season … the Rockies were limited to a .209 batting average (62-for-296) at Chavez Ravine last season while the pitching staff threw to a 4.56 ERA (75.0 IP, 38 ER).
• Colorado is 9-25 at Dodger Stadium since the 2019 season, having been outscored 188-118 over that span.
CRON ZONE
• C.J. Cron was named the National League Player of the Week yesterday by Major League Baseball, the second time in his career that he has earned the honor (also: Aug. 8, 2021).
• The first baseman went 2-for-4 with a double and home run Saturday and was 7-for-11 with two doubles and three home runs through the first three games before going hitless over his last nine at-bats … became the eighth player (ninth time, Dante Bichette twice) in franchise history to begin a season with at least seven hits through the team’s first three games, the first since Carlos González went 8-for-15 across the first three games of the 2015 season.
• Cron also became the first player in franchise history with at least seven hits and three home runs through the first three games of a season … the last player in the Majors with at least seven hits and three home runs through a teams first three games was Cody Bellinger with the Dodgers in 2019.
MEAT OF THE ORDER
• Kris Bryant, Charlie Blackmon and C.J Cron, who have hit two-three-four in the batting lineup each of the first five games, have combined to go 21-for-51 (.356) with five doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and four walks through the first five games.
• Kris Bryant has hit safely in each of the first five games, going 7-for-20 (.350) with one double, one RBI and two walks.
OPEN BOOK
• On Thursday, Charlie Blackmon made his 10th career Opening Day start, surpassing Troy Tulowitzki (nine) and Carlos González (nine) for the second-most Opening Day starts behind Todd Helton’s 16.
• The 2023 season is Blackmon’s 13th on the Rockies’ Major League roster, the second-most seasons in Rockies history behind Todd Helton’s 17.
STARTING PITCHER – GERMÁN MÁRQUEZ RHP
ON BACKGROUND
• Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2011 as a 16-year-old out of San Felix, Venezuela.
• Acquired by the Rockies along with LHP Jake McGee in exchange for OF Corey Dickerson and INF Kevin Padlo on Jan. 28, 2016.
• Signed a five-year contract extension on April 6, 2019, covering the 2019-23 seasons with an option for 2024.
MR. OPENING DAY
• Made his franchise record third Opening Day start for the Rockies on March 30 … previously, nine other pitchers in franchise history had made two Opening Day starts: Kyle Freeland (2022, 2019), Jon Gray (2017-18), Jorge De La Rosa (2016, 2014), Ubaldo Jiménez (2010-11), Aaron Cook (2007, 2009), Jason Jennings (2003, 2006), Mike Hampton (2001-02), Darryl Kile (1998-99) and Kevin Ritz (1996-97).
• Across his three Opening Day starts, Márquez has gone 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA (15.2 IP, 4 ER), 13 hits, nine walks and 13 strikeouts … earned the win on Thursday in San Diego, tossing six, two run frames … didn’t factor into the Rockies’ 8-5 win over the Dodgers on April 1, 2021 at Coors Field, allowing one run on six hits with six walks and two strikeouts across four innings … lost at Texas, in the first game in Globe Life Park history, despite allowing just one run on two hits across 5.2 innings in a 1-0 Rockies loss.
MOVING ON UP
• With his win on Opening Day, tied Jeff Francis for third in Rockies history with 64 victories.
• After throwing six frames on Thursday, now is at 1,002.0 innings pitched … joined Aaron Cook (1,312.1 IP), Jorge De La Rosa (1,141.1) and Jeff Francis (1,066.0) as the only pitchers to reach 1,000 innings pitched with the franchise.
• His 971 career strikeouts are the second-most in franchise history, trailing only Jorge De La Rosa (985 strikeouts).
• His 35 road wins are the second-most in franchise history, one away from tying Aaron Cook for the franchise record … 478 strikeouts on the road are the most in franchise history.
• Seventh in franchise history with 29 wins at home, one from tying Ubaldo Jiménez … 493 strikeouts at home second behind De La Rosa (515).
SPRING FLING
• Made four appearances (three starts) in Cactus League play and went 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA (17.0 IP, 1 ER), 11 hits allowed, two walks and 20 strikeouts.
• His lone run allowed in the Cactus League came in his last start on March 24 at Milwaukee, a solo home run to Garrett Mitchell.
HOLLYWOOD MARQUEE
• Has gone 3-4 in 16 career starts against the Dodgers, posting a 3.58 ERA (93.0 IP, 37 ER), striking out 90 and walking 35 … has held opposing Dodgers to a career .215 average.
• Is 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA (50.2 IP, 14 ER) at Dodger stadium in eight career starts, with Los Angeles-NL slashing .176/.244/.368 against the righty a Chavez Ravine.
• Made five starts against the Dodgers in 2022, going 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA (28.1 IP, 15 ER) while going 1-1 in two starts with a 3.75 ERA (12.0 IP, 5 ER) at Dodger Stadium.
TOP OF THE LINE
• Has made 77 starts since 2020, tied with Jose Berrios, Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola for the most in the Majors.
• Since his first full season in 2017, ranks among Major League leaders in starts (167, 4th), innings pitched (981.1, 6th), strikeouts (956, 12th) and wins (63, 9th). 2022
• Finished the season posting a 4.95 ERA across 31 starts, his highest ERA in any full season of his career … set career-highs in runs allowed (109), earned runs (100) and home runs (30).
• His 1.49 HR/9 was the fourth-highest rate in the Majors and the highest in the NL … 19 of his 30 home runs allowed were solo home runs.
• Of those 31 starts, 17 of them were quality, giving him his second consecutive season of 17 QS and third of his career of 15 or more (also: 20 QS in 2018).
• Went 2-6 (Rockies 9-7) with a 6.70 ERA (87.1 IP ,65 ER) with 24 walks and 80 strikeouts at Coors Field and 7-7 (Rockies 7-8) with a 3.34 ERA (94.1 IP, 35 ER) in 12 starts on the road.
• From July 5-Sept. 4, strung together a streak of 11-straight starts of at least six innings, tied for the fifth-longest such streak in the NL and tied for the sixth-longest in franchise history.
COORS
• Has gone 29-24 with a 5.08 ERA (483.1 IP, 273 ER), 147 walks and 493 strikeouts in 85 career appearances (84 starts) at Coors Field … the Rockies are 53-31 in his 85 career starts at home.
• In 16 starts at Coors Field in 2022, went 2-6 (Rockies 9-7) and pitched to a 6.70 clip (87.1 IP, 65 ER) with 24 walks and 80 strikeouts … opponents hit .317 (116- for-366) against him at home, the highest by any pitcher at their home ballpark.
• His 6.70 ERA at home was the highest home ERA in any season of his career and the seventh-highest in franchise history (min. 15 GS) … allowed four or more runs in 11 of his 16 home starts … received 60 total runs of support, a 6.18 RSA.
NOT COORS
• Career record of 35-30 with a 3.75 ERA (518.2 IP, 216 ER), 152 walks and 478 strikeouts in 88 appearances 86 starts) on the road … the Rockies are 45-41 in his 86 career road starts.
• Since his first full season in 2017,ranks among Major League leaders on the road in starts (85,T-2nd), innings pitched (510.0, 2nd), wins (35, 2nd) and strikeouts (473, 8th).
• Has also logged 59 starts on the road of at least six innings pitched, the second-most in the Majors behind Gerrit Cole (66).
• Finished last season on a run of 14 straight road starts of at least six innings, the longest streak by a starter in franchise history.
GROUNDED
• Has posted a 49.5 ground ball percentage since 2018, the ninth highest mark in the Majors and fourth-highest in the NL … his 51.3 ground ball percentage at home is the fifth-highest mark in the NL.
• Has induced 75 ground ball double plays over that span, the fifth-most in the Majors and the second-most in the NL behind teammate Kyle Freeland (86).
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
SEVEN HEAVEN: The Dodgers improved to 3-2 on the season as they clubbed three homers, scored 13 runs on 13 hits and beat up on the Rockies, 13-4. The Dodgers fell behind in the fifth inning but scored a season-high seven runs in the bottom of the frame to beat the Rockies. Jason Heyward capped the inning with a two-run homer while J.D. Martinez added a two-run single, and James Outman added a two-run triple in the frame. Following tonight’s homestand finale, the Dodgers will travel to Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon and begin their first road trip of the campaign with the first of four against the Diamondbacks beginning on Thursday before traveling to San Francisco for a three-game set beginning on April 10.
TWO-OUT MAGIC: Facing a two-run deficit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dodgers tallied five hits, two walks and scored seven runs to take the lead and the game. Freddie Freeman paced the attack, recording his third multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Chris Taylor, Will Smith and Jason Heyward each contributed with a two-run homer as the Dodgers connected with a homer for the fifth straight game. In his first start of the season, Heyward finished 2-for-3 with two runs and game-high three RBI. The Dodgers have homered in five straight games and their 10 homers lead the Major Leagues in front of the Yankees, Orioles and Giants, who each have nine this season. This is only the fifth time in franchise history that the Dodgers have started the season with 10+ homers through their first five games, joining the 2019 (16), 1955 (11), 1954 (11) and 1952 (10) teams.
LET’S GET IT STARTED: Michael Grove made the start for the Dodgers and cruised through the first four innings, striking out four without allowing a run. However, in the fifth inning, he ran into trouble and was the first Dodger hurler to not get into the sixth inning this season. Despite the short start, Dodger starters have posted four quality starts to begin the season, leading the Major Leagues ahead of the Rockies (3) and Rays (3). The Dodgers starters have posted a 2.17 ERA in the first five games of the season, which ranks fifth in the Majors, behind the Rays (0.39), Twins (0.84), Angels (1.72) and Yankees (1.86). Their three walks in 29.0 innings is a Major League best while their 0.69 WHIP ranks second in the Majors behind only the Rays (0.52).
WILL I AM: Will Smith clubbed his second homer of the season in the eighth inning, recording homers in two straight games and extending his hitting streak to four games. He is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two homers, seven RBI and a 1.340 OPS. He has reached nine times in 19 plate appearances. In 42 games against the Rockies, he is a .282 hitter with nine doubles, 13 homers and 41 RBI.
FREIGHT TRAIN: New Dodger David Peralta is off to a solid start with the Boys in Blue, recording three hits in 10 at-bats. In his career against the Rockies, he has been even better, hitting .340 (144-for-423) with 34 doubles, 12 homers and 73 RBI in 118 career games.
vs. COL: The Dodgers took the season series from the Rockies last season, recording 11 wins in 19 tries and finishing with +.500 mark over the Rockies for the fifth straight season. The Dodgers have a 60-28 record against the Rockies since 2018, which are the most wins by a National League team against any given team since 2018 and tied with the Guardians for most wins against a given team in that span.
OLD WESTERN: The Dodgers improved their mark to 3-2 on the season and are now 57-24 against the National League West dating back to last season. The Dodgers have posted nine straight winning seasons against the National League West division, including four 50+ win seasons against their NL West foes (2014, 2019, 2021-22). In the nine-year span, the Dodgers are 410-244 (.626) against the NL West.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – LHP JULIO URĺAS (1-0, 3.00 ERA in 1 GS)
2023 NOTES:
• Tossed six innings on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, giving up four hits and two earned runs while sitting down six
• Garnered a 1-1 record over three starts in Cactus League play, producing a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP) with six strikeouts against just three walks
• His last Cactus League start was on March 24 against Milwaukee, allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings work with one strikeout and three walks
• Key participant in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico, firing 9.0 innings in two starts against Colombia in pool play and Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals…struck out nine batters and walked three while allowing just one earned run on two hits
VS. ROCKIES:
• Last faced the club on October 4, 2022 in his last regular season start at Dodger Stadium, where he fired 5.0 frames and struck out four batters…gave up four hits, 2 earned runs, and one walk
• In his career, he owns a 5-2 record with a 4.91 ERA (46 ER/84.1 IP) with 72 strikeouts in 19 games (16 starts) against the Rockies
2022 NOTES:
• Produced a 17-7 record across 31 starts for a 2.16 ERA (42 ER/175.0 IP) with 166 strikeouts against just 41 walks…put out a 0.96 WHIP, his lowest mark since 2019 and did not deliver a wild pitch for the second time in his career (also 2018)
• Limited hitters to a .199 average, his lowest output since 2018…kept hitters to a .251 OBP, .347 SLG, and .615 OPS and totaled a 8.54 K/9
• Ranked amongst the National League best in several categories: wins (3rd, 17), ERA (2nd, 2.16), opponents average (6th, .199), WHIP (6th, 0.96), and win percentage (8th, .708)…was named to his second All-MLB Second Team and second year in the row
• Posted a strong second half record, going 9-1 in his final 13 starts of the year with a 0.88 WHIP and 1.26 ERA (11 ER/96.2 IP) paired with 72 strikeouts…went 4-0 in five starts in July, striking out 27 and walking just four en route to a 2.89 ERA (9 ER/28.0 IP)…later in August, also recorded a 3-0 mark in five starts to a 1.19 ERA (4 ER/30.1 IP) and 0.99 WHIP
• Started Game 1 of the NLDS, securing the Dodgers only win of the Postseason…pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts
CAREER NOTES:
• The Culiacan native enters his eighth season after earning his place in Dodger lore by recording final outs to close the club’s 2020 World Championship…has posted 50-17 record with four saves and a 2.82 ERA in 138 games (102 starts) in seven Major League seasons with Los Angeles…owns a 1.09 WHIP with 599 career strikeouts
• Earned his first ERA title in 2022 after leading the National League with a 2.16 ERA, becoming the first Mexican born pitcher to accomplish
the feat
• Has been awarded the Warren Spahn Award for two straight years (2021-22), which is awarded to the best left-handed pitcher in baseball who is best in wins, ERA, and strikeouts
• Propelled the Dodgers to their 2020 championship, going 4-0 with one save and a 1.17 ERA (3 ER/23.0 IP) in six Postseason games (two starts)…closed out clinching games of both the NLCS and World Series, with 3.0 perfect innings in NLCS Game 7 to earn the win and picked up the save in World Series Game 6 with four strikeouts in 2.1 clean frames without a baserunner
• Has been at his best in the Postseason during the course of his career, going 8-3 with one save and 3.68 ERA (24 ER/58.2 IP) in 23 postseason games (six starts)…has limited opponents to a .209 average with a 0.99 WHIP
• In 101 career starts he has gone 45-15 with a 2.91 ERA (172 ER/532.2 IP), while going 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA (16 ER/67.0 IP) in 36 relief appearances
• Was named to the 2021 and 2022 All-MLB Second Team, after posting double-digit wins in both seasons
• Made his MLB debut on May 27, 2016 with a start against the Mets, allowing three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings in a no-decision…was the 34th Dodger to make his MLB debut as a teenager since the club joined the National League in 1890 and first since Adrian Beltre, who made his debut on June 24, 1998 at the age of 19 years, 78 days…became the youngest Dodger starting pitcher at 19 years, 289 days, since Dick Calmus, who took the mound at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 23, 1963 vs. Milwaukee at 19 years, 228 days…also became the youngest Dodger to make his debut as a starting pitcher since Rex Barney (18 years, 242 days on his debut vs. Chicago-NL on Aug. 18, 1943) – Source: Stats, LLC.
• Collected his first big league win on June 28, 2016 at Milwaukee, allowing two runs on two hits in 6.0 innings and struck out six batters
• Became the youngest Dodger pitcher ever to appear in a postseason game at 20 years, 62 days in 2016 NLDS Game 5 against the Nationals, allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings of relief and recorded the win…became the youngest starting pitcher in MLB postseason history in the 2016 NLCS Game 5 against the Cubs at 20 years, 68 days, allowing four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings and recorded the loss
• Became the 4th Mexican-born pitcher with a 20-win season in 2021, joining Estaban Loaiza (21 W, 2003 CWS), Fernando Valenzuela (21 W, 1986 LAD) and Teddy Higuera (20 W, 1986 MIL)…also one of eight Mexican-born pitchers to start a game for the Dodgers, joining Fernando Valenzuela, Ismael Valdez, Elmer Dessens, Esteban Loaiza, Dennys Reyes, Vicente Romo and Victor Alvarez
• Named 2014 Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year and was also selected to the World Team for the 2014 XM All-Star Futures Game, becoming the youngest-ever player to participate in the contest at the age of 17
• Signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 17, 2012
