Rockies to go with Marquez in Game 3

This browser does not support the video element.

MILWAUKEE -- Right-hander Germán Márquez is scheduled to start Game 3 for the Rockies on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, which means lefty Kyle Freeland slots in for Monday's if-necessary Game 4 start in the National League Division Series against the Brewers.
If there was sentiment toward starting Freeland -- a Denver native -- in the Rockies' first home postseason game since 2009, manager Bud Black pushed that aside for practicality.
Freeland's 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the Rockies' 2-1, 13-inning victory over the Cubs in Tuesday night's NL Wild Card Game came after three days' rest. Although Sunday's start would be on regular rest, the added day came into play.
:: NLDS schedule and results ::
"Even though it's regular days' rest, we thought Marquez, then Freeland," Black said. "They've pitched that way here the last number of weeks. Give Kyle an extra day's rest after the short rest."
Marquez's last appearance was mixed. He struck out nine but gave up two home runs and was out after 4 2/3 innings in the Rockies' 5-2 loss to the Dodgers on Monday in the NL West tiebreaker.
Marquez was hurt by a Cody Bellinger two-run homer in an at-bat that should not have happened. Marquez crossed up catcher Tony Wolters by throwing a fastball when a changeup was called, and Wolters ended up with a passed ball on a third strike to Max Muncy. Marquez fanned the next two hitters before the mistake to Bellinger.
Muncy homered later on a pitch that left the Rockies wondering how he even put the ball in play, much less had a homer.
At Coors Field this year, Marquez is 6-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 16 starts. Since July 11, he is 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA in seven home starts -- six of them Rockies wins. He was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for September.

This browser does not support the video element.

Is it mind or body?
Righty reliever Adam Ottavino has given up key hits on 0-2 pitches to the Cubs' Javier Báez in the Wild Card Game and to the Brewers' Mike Moustakas, who won Game 1 on Thursday with a single. The first one, he was caught between throwing a fastball and a slider. The second one, Ottavino attacked Moustakas with four straight fastballs instead of going to a slider. The last pitch, he thought Moustakas would be looking for a slider.
Is this a case of overthinking, especially for a pitcher with one of the sport's best sliders?
"He does have good stuff … hey, he's a smart guy," Black said. "He might overthink some at times, but I think he'll be the first to tell you that pitch execution is premium.
"The last couple of times that we've had guys in the situation to put him away, he just hasn't. I think that's probably more physical than mental."

This browser does not support the video element.

Have they seen it all?
The Brewers' "bullpen day" was a rousing success for eight innings, when they held the Rockies to one hit -- Carlos González's triple. But in a short and compact series, will having fresh memories of key relievers work to the advantage of Rockies hitters?
"Obviously, the more times you face someone, the more comfortable you're going to feel," said shortstop Trevor Story, who won't remember bullpen day fondly after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. "We've seen those guys a few times this year, and we just saw them last night -- pretty much all their guys."

This browser does not support the video element.

More from MLB.com