Colorado Rockies: Roundtable season projections and outlooks

By Nick Bunney

For my breakout player this season, I’ll go with Trevor Story. You could argue that 2016 was Trevor’s breakout season, but it was cut short in July and we all saw the struggles as the pitching adjusted to him in his sophomore campaign. I think Trevor’s hot spring training is no mirage and he hits for a .282 BA, with 32 HR and 105 RBI in 2018, all while finishing in the top two for the Gold Glove at shortstop. The Rockies become known for the best left side of the infield in all of baseball.

Colorado Rockies

As for our disappointing player, I will say new closer Wade Davis. While it pains me to predict a disappointment and I hope I am wrong, there were some concerns among Cubs fans at his performance as the year progressed in 2017, and it would be understandable for those struggles to magnify in his first year at altitude. Don’t worry, he’ll bounce back.

The Rockies will be buyers at the trade deadline. As in 2017, the Rockies start hot and duke it out with the Dodgers for the top spot in the division for a couple months before the Dodgers pull out to a five- or six-game lead for the meaty part of the season. The Rockies add two much needed pieces at the deadline, including a starting pitcher in hopes of catching the Dodgers in the West.

As October arrives, the Rockies post a 90-72 record but cannot overcome a costly sweep to the Dodgers down the stretch and place second in the NL West. They host the NL Wild Card Game against Milwaukee, and after a seasonably warm night goes the Rockies way, they advance to the NLDS, where they lose in five games to the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs.