DENVER -- Rockies right-hander German Márquez grew in effectiveness by the inning during Saturday night’s intrasquad game. The performance might have been a good enough four innings and 64 pitches to assure manager Bud Black that Márquez is the proper choice to start Friday night’s season opener against the Rangers in Arlington.

Márquez, who during Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz., seemed on a collision path with his first Opening Day starting assignment, gave up a run in each of the first two innings. But in his final two frames, he struck out six of the next eight batters he faced.

Black has yet to set the rotation out of the gate, but with Márquez pitching well, the right-hander could get a couple extra days of rest and be ready for Friday. Righty Jon Gray, lefty Kyle Freeland and righty Antonio Senzatela would line up behind Márquez in some order. Black would then have Chi Chi González and Jeff Hoffman as either competitors for the fifth starting spot or to use as fifth and sixth starters in a potential six-man rotation. The duo could also swing between starting and relieving depending on matchups or who is pitching better at the time.

Two outfielders, no concerns
Right fielder Charlie Blackmon, who returned from a COVID-19 bout to single and homer Friday night in his first intrasquad game, homered off Ryan Castellani to open Saturday's game, then also walked and added an RBI single.

Center fielder David Dahl, who missed intrasquad play this week with core soreness, lashed an opposite-way double off Márquez, then singled in a run against Márquez in the second and later hustled out a double to right-center off Jairo Díaz.

Also, left-handed-hitting rookie Sam Hilliard skied an opposite-field, three-run homer off Díaz.

Murphy showing his wares
Daniel Murphy’s standout Summer Camp continued with two singles and a double in Saturday night’s game in which the Purple defeated the Pinstripes, 8-5.

Murphy was in the lineup as a designated hitter, but Black said that the club's best lineup involves Murphy at first base. Murphy has made some difficult plays at first base and he has looked more confident in his footwork than last year, when he moved to the position after several years primarily as a second baseman with the Mets, Nationals and Cubs.

Testing the rulebook
This year, if a reliever enters during an inning, he has to face a minimum of three batters, unless he finishes the inning. Black tested that three times Saturday.

• Righty Carlos Estévez entered with two on and no outs, and escaped with no runs scoring. Estévez struck out Chris Owings (who had tripled and doubled earlier), forced a Tony Wolters grounder that resulted in Murphy being trapped between third and home, and struck out Brendan Rodgers with a 1-2 slider.

• Phillip Diehl replaced Estévez with two out and two on, and struck out Blackmon with a slider that showed up at the end of last season and has continued to work. Diehl began the next inning, which meant he had to face at least two batters.

• Righty Tyler Kinley eventually replaced Diehl with two outs. Kinley walked Garrett Hampson, but struck out Josh Fuentes before also returning for the next inning.

Words and interpretations
Rodgers, Colorado's top prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is not only healthy after right shoulder labrum surgery, but he is notably stronger and showing a patient hitting stroke. On days when Murphy is the designated hitter and Ryan McMahon moves to first, who starts at second? Owings and Hampson have more experience, but Black was asked if the 60-game schedule means he has to be less patient with a young player.

“He learned a lot [last year] about what it’s going to take for him to be a big leaguer for a long time,” Black said of Rodgers. “That’s showing up in his work, his work ethic, our conversations with him, his weight-room training, the conversations with the coaches -- all of us have realized there’s been some maturity there, which is fantastic.

“We’re hoping he can be a Rockie for a long time, and be a productive offensive and defensive player for many, many years. We’ll see how this year plays out. This is unique for all of us.”

So what exactly does that mean?

The best way to continue the progress is to feed playing time carefully. On days when Murphy is designated hitter and McMahon moves to first base, they have Owings and Hampson to man second base -- but Rodgers will get his chances. The 23-year-old will get enough starts to stay fresh, but Black will let Rodgers settle in and let his bat in regular-season games determine his playing time.

Black took a gradual tack with McMahon, Raimel Tapia and Hampson. All three had periods of struggle before establishing themselves, but all also ended up contributing on postseason teams.