Team Preview: The 2019 Colorado Rockies are poised to contend for the West title. The Rockies have a nice balance of pitching and offense. They are capable of pushing both the Dodgers and the Giants out of the top spot.

Starting Rotation: 25-year-old RHP Erin Healy (11-6,2.81) will top the rotation after posting a 2.74 ERA in his first 2 seasons with the Rockies. RHP Juan Gutierrez (12-11,3.42) another young gun at 26-years of age will be in the 2nd spot. Guitierrez struck out 219 batters in 216 innings last season. RHP Brent Rader (14-12,3.28) will throw next. Rader has been a workhorse for the Rockies since being Acquired via trade with Milwaukee in 2016. RHP Yu Sasaki (17-7,3.17) had his best season since signing out of Taiwan in 2015. He won 17 games and had 202 strikeouts in 190.1 innings. 26-year-old Lefty Brady Norman (12-9,3.64) will complete the rotation.

Bullpen: 11-year veteran Archie Milton (2.88,51SV) converted 51 out of 55 saves last season. The right-hander has 243 saves and a 2.52 ERA for his career. RHP Luis Figueroa (7-2,4.91,29HLD) struggled in the closer role but pitched well in the middle innings. RHP Juan Tejeda (3-3,4.33) only appeared in 19 and 25 games the last two years because of injuries. Lefty Chad Sadler (2.34,11HLD) will provide long relief for the Rockies. Sadler pitched 80.2 innings in 59 appearances in 2018. RHP Vinny Romito (6-2,2.68,19HLD) made 83 appearances throwing 90.2 innings in 2018. 35-year-old LHP Wade Skinner (3-6,2.79) will be the lefty specialist. RHP A.J. Wilcox (2-3,5.68) struggled in his first season in Colorado posting his career high ERA 5.68. Wilcox has a 4.05 career ERA.

Lineup: All-Star Quincy Black (.270,27,88) will lead off for the Rockies again this season. Black has a .358 OBP in his first 3 seasons. He has also hit 89 home runs in that span out of the leadoff spot. SS Chase Avalos (.241,14,46) will hit second. Avalos hit 31 doubles and stole 23 bases in his first full season last year. All-Star RF Marcus Pride (.283,40,113) has hit 30+ homers in each of his 5 seasons with the Rockies. Pride signed an extension last year worth 6-years 78.3 million.1B Calvin Washington (.300,33,100) will hit 5th. Washington comes into 2019 32 home runs away from 300 for his career. 13-year-veteran 3B Jesus Prieto (.263,23,65) will hit 6th. The 36-year-old Prieto has 303 career homers and a .277 career batting average. He will likely platoon at 3rd this season with Antwan Monk (.267,18,46) who hit 16 home runs in 86 games last year as a rookie. Joe Jaschek (.273,14,47) and Derek Sullivan (.207,2,12) will platoon behind the plate. LF Jake Knight (.263,11,36) will hit 7th. Knight signed a 2-year deal with the Rockies in 2018 worth 11.6 million. 2B Damien Suggs (.260,10,60) will hit in the 8th hole. Suggs stole 20 bases last season. 21-year-old top prospect OF Benito Vargas and rookie Trey Matcalf will both likely make the 25-man roster this season.

Overall: The Rockies will contend in the division this season but may need some help along the way to push them over. They lack depth and with no real help ready to come up from the minors this season, they could be one injury away from being in the cellar. The Rockies are an exciting team to play with. Yet another club that with the right front office moves could be right in the mix. The minor league system needs to be addressed and depth added for this team to thrive in 2019.