Marquez made his first Opening Day roster this year but was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in the season's first week to stretch his innings, with the big league rotation solidified and no immediate need for a long reliever. In his last outing, on Thursday for Albuquerque, Marquez struck out eight, including six straight, over 4 2/3 innings on a 75-pitch limit. In 10 innings over three outings, he has given up three earned runs on eight hits and fanned 18.
"It was a little hard, because I had been throwing a lot, so when I was there, I found my release point," Marquez said about having to be stretched out again after resting 11 days between his final Cactus League start and first for Albuquerque.