Fantasy Baseball Drafts: When to Draft German Marquez

Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez could be a steal in 2020 fantasy baseball leagues.

With about 100 pitchers being drafted in fantasy baseball leagues, no player that gets action from the mound can be overlooked. Rockies pitcher German Marquez currently is the 70th pitcher coming off the board in fantasy baseball league drafts but could end up being a value pick according to our analysts.

Sports Illustrated’s fantasy baseball analysts Shawn Childs and Jaime Eisner discuss the Colorado righty and analyze when fantasy baseball players should consider drafting him.

Read the full transcript from the interview below.

Bill Enright: Could Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez be a steal when it comes to 2020 fantasy baseball drafts? Let's find out what two of our fantasy baseball analysts have to say about the Rockies pitcher. Let's bring on Jamie Eisner and Shawn Childs for a game of draft or pass. Jamie, I'll start with you. Which way are you going with the Rockies ace? 

Jamie Eisner: Marquez is an absolute draft for me and longtime viewers of these SI videos will realize what my brand has become in draft or pass, and that is high strikeout upside pitchers with some ERA concerns going too late in drafts. He's going around SP 50 right now, I think he's close to an SP 35. His fastball velocity was increased for the third straight year last year. His walk rate was sterling. He had a 3.54 xFIP and now there's a decent chance he might not have to pitch too many games in Colorado depending on what happens when MLB comes back. I think he's a guy that can get you around an ERA of four, run a 0.125 WHIP and get you a pro-rated version of 190-plus strikeouts. That's right now going outside the top 175. 

Bill Enright: All right. So Jamie says draft German Marquez. Let's find out what Mr. Childs has to say about the Colorado pitcher, Shawn, which way are you going, draft or pass? 

Shawn Childs: Well, normally when a guy's got a walk rate under two, he's going to be a very attractive guy, especially when he strikes out over nine batters and even did better the year before. But, you know, Herman pitched really, really well for 20 of his 30 starts—or 28 starts last year—and he had probably an ERA, probably 3.5. But he did struggle with his slider and he gave up a lot of home runs, which is always sort of a sign that, you know, maybe he has an underlying elbow issue. His curve ball is electric, his fastball is strong. But overall, he's pitching in Colorado for me. He has some disaster in him and I'm a little concerned about his elbow. So I think people will pay for his walk rate in a strikeout rate. And I'm going to fade him because I don't want to, you know, go after a Colorado pitcher with a little bit of downside or injury risk for me. So I'm going to pass on him this year.

Bill Enright: It's a split decision when it comes to German Marquez. Thank you, Jamie, thank you, Shawn. We got more draft or pass for fantasy baseball season. You can find it by going to SI.com/fantasy.

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