MLB awards watch: NL Cy Young races

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 09: Starting pitcher German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on April 09, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 09: Starting pitcher German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on April 09, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 14: Colorado Rockies Starting pitcher German Marquez (48) in action during the MLB game between the Rockies and Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 14: Colorado Rockies Starting pitcher German Marquez (48) in action during the MLB game between the Rockies and Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. German Marquez, RHP Colorado Rockies

2-1, 30 strikeouts (T-15th), 0.97 WHIP (T-7th), 1.3 WAR (4th) and 2.25 ERA (5th).

When it comes to Colorado Rockies players, home and away splits speak volumes to the stadium they play in, Coors Field. German Marquez has been a Cy Young lock in three road starts this season. At home? He’s pitched to a 6.30 ERA in two starts and 10 innings pitched this season.

No, this isn’t an excuse being made for Marquez. Rather, it’s a testament to how strong of a starter he is. Even with those clunker starts at home, he still finds himself high in many statistical categories.

Marquez has allowed one earned-run in those three road starts, which is highlighted by a complete-game shutout in which he flirted with a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants.

Breaking down Marquez‘s numbers, other than cutting down the number of fastballs he throws and upping his slider usage, there really aren’t any glaring changes in pitch usage and batted-ball percentages like we have seen with the other pitchers mentioned.

Although, there is one thing and it doesn’t bode well for Marquez: he is only producing a soft-contact percentage of 8.1, and a he has a hard-contact percentage of 41.9. He obviously needs to clean some things up, especially at home, but he is still pitching like one of the best in baseball.