Colorado Rockies: Our updated prediction for the Opening Day roster

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 19: Elias Diaz of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait at the Colorado Rockies Spring Training Facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 19, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

SCOTTSDALE — Since last week when we published our first look at what the Colorado Rockies Opening Day roster might look like, there have been plenty of developments and we are making some tweaks to our original thoughts.

You can see our first glance at a potential Opening Day roster for the Colorado Rockies by clicking here. As a reminder, teams are now allowed to carry 26 players on the active roster, with that number split evenly between pitchers and position players.

One thing that has not changed from our original projection is our view of who will be behind the plate for the Rockies when they open the schedule on March 26 at San Diego against the Padres. I believe Tony Wolters and Elias Diaz will still form the backstop for the Rockies.

Heading into Sunday’s play, Diaz had put up the best numbers of any Rockies catcher vying for an Opening Day spot (including Wolters, Drew Butera, and Dom Nunez). Diaz posted a 9-for-19 line with a double, triple and 3 RBI. Also, he has struck out one time in those 19 at-bats while posting a .474/.476/.632 slash line.

Butera comes in next at .364/.462/1.000 with two homers in 11 at-bats. Wolters (.167/.211/.333) and Nunez (.143/.250/.357) are far behind.

Can the Rockies figure out a way for the catching position to be a positive on the offensive side in 2020? Diaz has the possibility to make that happen.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 12: James Pazos #47 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Rotation: German Marquez, Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, Chi Chi Gonzalez

Bullpen: Wade Davis, Jairo Diaz, Carlos Estevez, Tyler Kinley, Jake McGee, Scott Oberg, James Pazos, Bryan Shaw

Some big changes from our original prediction of which 13 pitchers will make the trek to San Diego so let’s dive into some thoughts here.

First, in the rotation, we originally had Ubaldo Jimenez taking the fifth spot. However, after his rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, it’s obvious that the 36-year-old (who has been out of organized baseball for two seasons) needs some time to fine tune his craft. Expect him to open the season at Triple-A and hopefully improve as the season goes along … and be ready if the Rockies need him.

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With that in mind, Gonzalez will likely take the fifth starter role as Peter Lambert will start the season in Triple-A as well. Lambert, who will turn 23 in June, can spend some more time preparing for what should be a long Major League career. There’s no reason to rush him into the rotation to start the year.

By the way, we’re also predicting Marquez will be the Opening Day starter.

Second, a big change in the bullpen as well. We still don’t have Jeff Hoffman making the team but we are also predicting Yency Almonte now won’t either. Both players are out of options so will likely go through the waivers process.

Taking Almonte’s place will be Tyler Kinley, who has impressed the Rockies so far in the spring. In his six innings covering six games this spring (including Sunday), Kinley has allowed just two hits and walked two while striking out six and earning two saves. He was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins in December and added to the 40-man roster. We think he could be a more reliable option for the Rockies at this time than Hoffman or Almonte.

So far, Bud Black has been impressed.

“You like the velocity. The intent is there every pitch,” Black said of Kinley. “Really like the slider. The slider is a real pitch.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders. Clear thinker. There’s a lot to like.”