SCOTTSDALE http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-a.-j.-pollock-jersey , Ariz. (AP) —o Rockies have one of baseball’s best young starting rotations.According to ace Kyle Freeland, at least.“I think our rotation can stack up against anybody,” Freeland said Wednesday when pitchers and catchers had their first workout.He has a strong case. The Rockies have made the postseason as a wild card each of the past two seasons — a first for the franchise — and the evolutions of young starters like Freeman, German Marquez and Tyler Anderson are a big reason why.The rotation had a 4.17 ERA last season, the second-lowest mark ever for the franchise. Of course, because of the hitter-friendly conditions at Coors Field, the Rockies are unlikely to ever challenge for a team ERA title.Other indicators show them right there with the National League’s best. The group made 87 quality starts — only the Dodgers (95) and Milwaukee Brewers (91) had more — while working a league-high 932 innings. Ranked by Fangraphs’ wins above replacement metric — which attempts to cancel out park effects — Colorado’s starters ranked fourth in the NL, behind the Mets, Dodgers and Phillies.The chief goal right now: catching the six-time reigning NL West champion Dodgers.“The Dodgers have a very good rotation. These are different rotations because these are different pitchers,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “We feel like on any given night, any given start, that we can match up with anybody. The Dodgers have pitched extremely well the last number of years. You look at team pitching. You look at any team that has made the playoffs, they are always at the top of team pitching. Statistically, the Dodgers are right there.“That is our goal, when you look at team pitching, to be up the ladder there. We have a little different environment Yasmany Tomas Jersey , but there are some markers there that show we are a good pitching team.”Homegrown starters Freeland and Marquez had breakout years in 2018, the second full season for each. The 25-year-old Freeland was 17-7 with 2.85 ERA, which was fifth in the league, and Marquez, 23, was 14-11 with a 3.77 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 196 innings.Jon Gray, another product from the farm, is a three-time double-digit winner who won 12 games with a 5.12 ERA last year. After an inconsistent few years, the 27-year-old reported to camp having putting on some muscle and “is in a good spot,” Black said.“From when I got here a couple of years ago, I sensed that there was some talent, and I think we are building on that, too,” said Black, in his third season in Colorado. “The depth is starting to emerge from our system. Overall, we feel good about the group. I know that organizationally http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-shelby-miller-jersey , it is something we have to stay on top of. All teams do.“Because you have to pitch.”Freeland pitched six shutout innings on three days’ rest when the Rockies beat Chicago in the NL wild-card game, and Marquez gave up two runs in five innings in his NLDS start against Milwaukee, which swept the three-game series.Now, Freeland said, it’s time to get even better.“We are all getting older, we are all getting wiser and learning this game, and learning it all the highest capacity,” Freeland said.“We are in the playoffs and we are playing extremely meaningful games that are do-or-die. We are learning how to play in that, and I think that is only going to help us in the long run.”__ NEW YORK (AP) — Several hundred fans waited out a 5-hour, 35-minute rain delay Wednesday in Citi Field’s covered areas, pouring back beer or coffee to pass the time. A handful along the first-base line chanted “Let’s play ball!” to the tune of “Let’s go Mets!” On the suite level, others napped on couches.In the clubhouse, New York starter Zack Wheeler sat around, paced the room, then sat around some more.“A lot of walking around,” he said.Then just like that Chris Owings Jersey , he and the Mets flipped the switch, jumping on the Miami Marlins following a long delay for a soggy 13-0 victory that wrapped up early Thursday morning.The teams were set to play a single-admission doubleheader Wednesday to make up Monday’s rainout, but the nightcap was pushed to Thursday. They now will play two games beginning at 3:10 p.m. to conclude a four-game series.Showers fell throughout the day, and it was still misting when Wheeler finally threw the first pitch at 9:45 p.m.Wheeler (11-7) tossed one-hit ball into the seventh and allowed four hits over eight innings. Paul Sewald got the final out at 12:15 a.m.Wheeler told manager Mickey Callaway following the eighth that he was drained after spending about 12 hours at the ballpark.“I really would’ve liked to finish it, but I was tired,” Wheeler said.Jay Bruce hit a grand slam, Jeff McNeil had three hits and Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith each homered for the Mets, rewarding the rain-soaked fans who stuck around to watch a matchup between NL East laggards.“The challenge is to get back up going again after you’ve sat for so long,” Callaway said. “Guys are coming around asking, ‘Hey, you get any word? You get any word?’ You have to wait six hours, then all of a sudden, you turn it on like a switch. They did a pretty good job of it tonight.”It could’ve been worse. The White Sox and Rangers were delayed in Chicago for 7 1/2 hours on Aug. 13, 1990, though it’s unclear if that was the longest delay in major league history. That game was finally postponed around 9 p.m.The Marlins seemed sluggish from the start, and the Mets poured it on. Smith scored on Jose Reyes’ second-inning double after relay man Starlin Castro held the ball Archie Bradley Jersey , apparently unaware that Smith had just rounded third. Third baseman Brian Anderson then misplayed Tomas Nido’s grounder, allowing Reyes to score.“It was the same both ways,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the delay. “Just a long day, a lot of sitting around. And that’s all.”McNeil added an RBI triple to make it 3-0, and also had an RBI single in the sixth. The rookie raised his batting average to .340 in 46 games.Rosario added a three-run homer in the fourth off Trevor Richards (3-9). Rosario entered the game batting .322 with a .488 slugging percentage since Aug. 10.Richards said it was probably the longest delay he’s experienced.“You just hung out in the clubhouse,” he said. “There’s card games going on, listen to music, and there’s games on TV and stuff. Just hang out and kill time.”Bruce and Smith went deep during a seven-run sixth inning that capped the scoring.COME BACK SOON!The Mets are inviting fans with tickets to Wednesday’s scheduled doubleheader back for any home game from Sept. 25-27 or any Monday-Thursday game next April, excluding opening day.STOPPING BYTop prospect Peter Alonso was finally in uniform at Citi Field, just not as part of New York’s active roster. Alonso was honored on the field as the Mets’ minor league player of the year about two weeks after New York frustrated fans by declining to promote him to the major leagues.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: RHP Dan Straily is likely to miss the rest of the season with a strained oblique. … Miami is still trying to sort out who will start Saturday’s game at Philadelphia.UP NEXTMiami rookie RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-0, 0.75 ERA) will face Mets LHP Steven Matz (5-11, 4.17) in the opener Thursday, with Marlins RHP Jeff Brigham (0-1, 9.00 ERA) and Mets LHP Jason Vargas (5-9, 6.75) going in the nightcap.