2020 Colorado Rockies Preview – MLB Preview & Prediction
With the Rockies they are one team that has had some good runs at times, but the Rockies have also had a rocky pitching staff since they came into the majors. A lot of that stems from the altitude that is seen in Denver and that would give even Tom Glavine or Cy Young a challenge if either one of them was in the league and starting for the Rockies. Well, did the Rockies make enough in the way of improvement for this season to be competitive or are the Rockies one team that is going to fade into the past this season. Find out what we think by reading our 2020 Colorado Rockies preview today.
Colorado Rockies Starters
The starting rotation does have a few big names in the rotation and one player that could be a potentially really good staff ace for almost any team in the majors. The ace for the Rockies is projected to be German Marquez. He is followed up by Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, and then finishing out the rotation is Chi Chi Gonzalez. Marquez for his part ended up playing in 28 games for a total of 174 innings a game. German Marquez did strike out 175 batters and ended up with a 12-5 record and a 4.76 ERA on the season last year.
Colorado Rockies Relievers
For the Rockies the bullpen was a little bit rocky last year and the Rockies did not really make that many moves in the off season to do what I would view as being some major shoring up of their bullpen. The bullpen consist of Scott Oberg, Jairo Diaz, Carlos Estevez, Bryan Shaw, and Jake McGee. The closer for the Rockies is projected to by Wade Davis. Last season for Davis, he pitched in 50 games with 42.2 innings thrown, but struck out 42 batters while getting 15 saves. When it comes to the rest of his record, Davis posted a 1-6 record with 3 blown saves and a dismal 8.65 ERA.
Colorado Rockies Catchers
For the Rockies the catcher position is not really coming in that weak. However, the Rockies could have up to 4 players on the roster that can catch the ball. The starter is most likely going to be Tony Wolters, but he should be backed up by Elias Diaz. Last season for Wolters he ended up playing in 121 games and managed to hit at a clip of .262, but only cranked 1 ball into the stands and brought home 42 runners. When it comes to the base runners Wolters was able to throw out a decent 34.3% of the runners that tried to steal.
Colorado Rockies Corners
The corners for the Rockies are going to be held down by some good players who played for the Rockies last year. First base is projected to have Daniel Murphy starting and third is looking like it will be the base held down by Nolan Arenado. When it comes to the backup at first it is projected to by Josh Fuentes and at third is Ryan McMahon. Last season Murphy played in 132 games and ended up hitting at a clip of .279 with 13 homers and 78 runners brought home. Nolan Arenado is one player that is seemingly a mainstay in Colorado. Last season, he played in 155 games with a .315 average and cranked out 41 homers while getting 118 runners brought home.
Colorado Rockies Middle Infield
Ryan McMahon pulls the backup card at third, but he is the starting second baseman. When it comes to the starting shortstop it is held down by Trevor Story. The backup for both positions in the middle infield of the Rockies is Garrett Hampson. Last season McMahon played in 141 games and hit at a clip of .250 with 24 homers and 83 runners brought in. Story for his part played in 145 games and did decent hitting at a clip of .245 with 35 homers and 85 runners driven in on the year.
Colorado Rockies Outfield
The outfield for Colorado is not that bad with Raimel Tapia in left, David Dahl in center, and playing in right field is Charlie Blackmon. Backing up in left field is Ian Desmond, but the backup for center and right both is Sam Hillard. During the year last year Raimel Tapia managed to play in 138 games and hit at a clip of .275 with 9 homers and only 44 runners brought home. Dahl is coming in after playing in 100 games last season while hitting at a clip of .302 with 15 homers and 61 runners brought home. Blackmon, the bearded wonder, played in 140 games and hit at a clip of .314 with 32 homers and managed to get 86 runners back home.
Colorado Rockies Prediction
The Rockies are one team that has been looking in from the outside come October, but a lot of that stems from the pitching staff that is unable to close out the games. The offense is able to produce for the most part for the Rockies, but when your projected closer is coming in with an ERA that is north of 8 and just barely south of 9 you have some serious issues. Not to mention, the Rockies did not make the big name adjustments like the Diamondbacks did which will keep the Rockies sitting in probably 3rd in the NL West.
