Colorado Rockies: Our simulated 2020 Opening Day roster

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 26: Raimel Tapia #15 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by Garrett Hampson #1 after scoring against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 26, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Our simulated Opening Day roster

Pitchers (13)

Starters (5) — Kyle Freeland, Kyle Gibson, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jon Gray, German Marquez

Relievers (8) — Jairo Diaz, Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, Jake McGee, Scott Oberg, James Pazos, David Phelps, Antonio Senzatela.

OK, let’s talk about this for a moment. I’m giving Gonzalez the fifth starter spot based on what he did in September (1.65 ERA and 26 strikeouts with 11 walks in 27.1 innings). This also gives Peter Lambert time in Triple-A to develop a little more.

You will notice that Senzatela and Hoffman are part of the bullpen. The Rockies need to make this happen and to have these two fill a middle relief role makes sense.

Position players (13)

Infield (7) — Nolan Arenado, Garrett Hampson, Jed Lowrie, Ryan McMahon, Brendan Rodgers, Dominic Smith, Trevor Story

Outfield (4) — Charlie Blackmon, David Dahl, Ian Desmond, Raimel Tapia

Catchers (2) — Jason Castro, Tony Wolters

Some thoughts here … Hampson can also help in the outfield as he showed last year. Rodgers can start the year in the Majors after a disappointing debut and shoulder surgery ended his season. Dahl can take over in center field with Sam Hilliard able to be called up whenever a boost is needed in any part of the outfield. Desmond is officially the fourth outfielder and comes off the bench against southpaws.

And remember, MLB is going to a 26-man roster next year so we split it down the middle in terms of pitchers and position players.

So what might the Opening Day starting lineup look like in this simulation? How about something like this?

More from Rox Pile

Story (SS)

Blackmon (RF)

Arenado (3B)

Dahl (CF)

McMahon (1B)

Tapia (LF)

Hampson (2B)

Wolters (C)

Pitcher

Or maybe…