Colorado Rockies batting order: What it could look like in Cleveland

The Colorado Rockies open their third interleague road series on Tuesday night when they visit the Cleveland Indians to start a quick two-game set at Progressive Field.

Tuesday marks the first time the Rockies and Indians have met since Colorado took both games against the defending American League champs in Denver in early June. It also marks Colorado’s first interleague road trip since June 1 when the Rockies finished up a two-game visit to the Pacific Northwest, splitting a two-game series with the Seattle Mariners.

A lot has changed with the Rockies since June 1, but we thought it would be interesting to take a look back at Colorado’s five different batting orders for its five road interleague games (three at the Minnesota Twins and two in Seattle). This is the only time when the Rockies can deploy the designated hitter.

Here’s a look back at the lineups the Rockies have featured in American League parks…

Colorado Rockies

At Minnesota (May 16)

Charlie Blackmon CF

DJ LeMahieu 2B

Nolan Arenado 3B

Mark Reynolds DH

Carlos Gonzalez RF

Ian Desmond 1B

Gerardo Parra LF

Pat Valaika SS

Tony Wolters C

At Minnesota (May 18, Game 1 of doubleheader)

Blackmon CF

LeMahieu 2B

Arenado 3B

Reynolds DH

Gonzalez RF

Desmond 1B

Parra LF

Alexi Amarista SS

Wolters C

At Minnesota (May 18, Game 2 of doubleheader)

Blackmon CF

LeMahieu 2B

Arenado 3B

Gonzalez DH

Desmond 1B

Parra RF

Raimel Tapia LF

Valaika SS

Ryan Hanigan C

At Seattle (May 31)

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Blackmon CF

LeMahieu 2B

Arenado 3B

Reynolds 1B

Desmond LF

Gonzalez RF

Story SS

Valaika DH

Wolters C

At Seattle (June 1)

Blackmon CF

LeMahieu 2B

Arenado 3B

Gonzalez RF

Reynolds DH

Parra LF

Desmond 1B

Story SS

Wolters C

So let’s look at some of the things that we know have changed. Wolters is now catching for Triple-A Albuquerque as the Rockies acquired Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline. Desmond is on the disabled list with a calf injury and it’s been reported that he could go on a rehab assignment before coming back to the Rockies, meaning he will most likely not be available while Colorado is in Cleveland.

Additionally, Gonzalez has slid further down the lineup in recent weeks, batting as low as seventh in some games.

The Indians are scheduled to start right-hander Corey Kluber (9-3, 2.77 ERA) on Tuesday and right-hander Trevor Bauer (10-8, 5.00 ERA) on Wednesday. With that in mind, here is how Colorado’s lineup could look in Cleveland.

Blackmon CF

LeMahieu 2B

Arenado 3B

Parra LF

Reynolds 1B

Tapia DH

Gonzalez RF

Story SS

Lucroy/Hanigan C

That would give the Rockies four left-handed bats in the lineup. That number could be bumped up to five if Amarista was inserted into the lineup at shortstop. The right-handed Valaika could also see time in the lineup with his hot bat probably not being needed in a pinch-hitting situation under American League rules.

The designated hitter allows the Rockies to insert another bat into the lineup and that will likely be one of Colorado’s trio of outfielders in Parra, Gonzalez and Tapia.

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Another factor that could play into the lineup could be the quirky schedule the Rockies have this week. The team had an off day on Monday before the Cleveland series began and will have another one on Thursday after the series ends and before Colorado starts a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins. With that in mind, finding a day off for a player doesn’t become as big of a necessity as it would under normal circumstances.