Let’s look into our crystal ball as of February’s end
We are through a week of Spring Training games and an awful weather February in northeast Ohio is coming to a (warm) end, so let’s take a guess at where the Guardians’ roster will be on Opening Day:
Starting Lineup:
Catcher – Bo Naylor
First Base – Carlos Santana
Second Base – Tyler Freeman
Third Base – Jose Ramirez
Shortstop – Brayan Rocchio
Left Field – Steven Kwan
Center Field – Lane Thomas
Right Field – Will Brennan
Designated Hitter – Kyle Manzardo
Notes: Until I see Chase DeLauter happily and healthily cruising around an Arizona outfield, I’m going to assume that we will get the Brennan/Noel platoon in right field. I wish Noel was showing any tendency to not swing at sliders outside the zone and Brennan was showing any ability to take pitches and hit fastballs in the zone, but neither of those things is happening yet. Right now, I give Freeman the slight advantage in the second base competition, as Brito hasn’t done enough to avoid the usual “send him to Columbus to heat up” ploy.
Bench:
Catcher – Austin Hedges
Utility Infielder – Gabriel Arias
Outfielder/First Baseman – Jhonkensy Noel
Utility Player – Angel Martinez
Notes: I put Angel Martinez in that last spot over Daniel Schneemann because, folks, I just don’t see it with Schneemann. The whiff is so strong and the defense isn’t good enough to make you patiently wait for him to get to the exit velocity he is capable of. This will be Arias’s last chance to make good on the promise of his tools and I’d expect the team to move on by June if he fails to do so.
Rotation:
Tanner Bibee
Gavin Williams
Joey Cantillo
Luis Ortiz
Triston McKenzie
Notes: Just about everybody has McKenzie on their DFA/trade list after his terrible outing on 2/27. It’s one game, but if he comes out and walks the side for the next three outings, it’ll be time to press the panic button. IF the current group remains healthy, I do think the team will find a trade partner for Ben Lively at the end of camp and let some of the other arms get a shot. Looking at Slade Cecconi’s adjustments, I predict the team will let him hone his new pitch mix/arm slot in Columbus for a few weeks, and then bring him up if McKenzie is struggling. Doug Nikhazy, Logan Allen and Will Dion look like they’ll be providing some good depth in Triple-A as well.
Bullpen:
Koby Allard
Jakob Junis
Andrew Walters
Paul Sewald
Tim Herrin
Hunter Gaddis
Cade Smith
Emmanuel Clase
Notes: I do think that IF Erik Sabrowski can’t get healthy here soon from his hamstring trouble, the team will add one of Koby Allard, Parker Mushinksi or Andrew Misiaszek as their second bullpen lefty, at least until Sabrowski is healthy. I picked Allard because his name is easier to spell. Other than that, the bullpen looks solid. Could potentially see Vince Velazquez get a look here and Walters spend some time in Columbus as well. I don’t think Lively’s stuff will play up much in the pen so that’s why he isn’t here.
Let us know your predictions and thoughts below!