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Colorado Rockies: 2018 Opening Day roster predictions

By Olivia Greene

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Manager Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies stands on the first base line with rest of the team as the National Anthem plays before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 2-1. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Manager Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies stands on the first base line with rest of the team as the National Anthem plays before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 2-1. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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Colorado Rockies
DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Manager Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies stands on the first base line with rest of the team as the National Anthem plays before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 2-1. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The cold and dark months of the offseason are now gone. There now is only the bright days of Spring Training and regular season baseball ahead. Along with Spring Training comes the many competitions for roster spots with this year’s Colorado Rockies.

We have all started to see many of the young Rockies players stand out in an effort to get their name on the coveted 2018 Opening Day roster. For some, it’s a hard task. For others, they have been on this path for many seasons.

Now that it’s finally March, I can go over my predictions on who will be on the Opening Day 25-man roster.

Pitchers (13)

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 20: Relief pitcher Chris Rusin #52 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on August 20, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 20: Relief pitcher Chris Rusin #52 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on August 20, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Rotation:

  1. Jon Gray, RHP
  2. Chad Bettis, RHP
  3. German Marquez, RHP
  4. Tyler Anderson, LHP
  5. Kyle Freeland, LHP
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies /

Colorado Rockies

Bullpen

Wade Davis, RHP  (Closer)

Mike Dunn, LHP

Carlos Estevez, RHP

Jake McGee, LHP

Antonio Senzatela, RHP

Adam Ottavio, RHP

Chris Rusin, LHP

Bryan Shaw, RHP

We already had knowledge that Bud Black was going into the Opening Day roster with 13 pitchers (the same mentality he had last season). In this article, he talks about how he tried to get it down to 12, but it was difficult.

There is also a battle for the fourth and fifth rotation spots so these could all change before the season begins. Even though I put Senzatela in the bullpen, I still have high hopes that he could win the battle for that fifth rotation spot. In my original article about the starting rotation, it’s a bit different because of the guys who have made serious impressions on the Rockies.

Yes, these have been changes in the offseason with Greg Holland (who remains unsigned) and Tyler Chatwood (who signed with the Chicago Cubs) no longer part of the mix. However, the Rockies did a good job replacing Holland and the departed Pat Neshek (now with the Philadelphia Phillies) with Wade Davis and Bryan Shaw. All in all, the super bullpen will be in full effect on Opening Day in Arizona.

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