Projecting the Opening Day Roster: Pitchers

Starting Rotation

Ricky Nolasco
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
Anibal Sanchez
Andrew Miller

This just about set in stone. The only question that remains is whether it will be Sanchez or Miller that is deemed the fifth starter and will open the season in the minors for some extra work before joining the club on April 18th. It was looking like Miller, but yesterday he threw six innings without allowing an earned run and has looked better each time he goes out. Sanchez has been no slouch, but maybe the team wants a lefty to begin the season. Who knows?

Bullpen

Locks
Matt Lindstrom
Leo Nunez
Renyel Pinto
Logan Kensing

Others
Rick VandenHurk
Kiko Calero
Carlos Martinez
Dan Meyer
John Koronko
Scott Proctor (DL)

The normal bullpen would have seven spots, but it could be eight to start the season if Fredi Gonzalez decides he wants to use the roster spot vacated by the fifth starter to be an extra bullpen arm. I think that is what will happen since the bullpen is the biggest remaining position battle and early in the season the starters might be on pitch counts so the bullpen needs to be deep. If that's the case then the decision would seem simple. Proctor will be on the disabled list and one of the two lefties (Meyer or Koronka) would be sent to the minors or released. If we go with the conventonal seven to begin with, the last cut would be one of the following three, Martinez, Calero, VandenHurk. I have no clue which guy would go. Martinez and Calero have been good and VandenHurk is kind of an unknown because of his time with the WBC. If Lindstrom starts the season on the DL, which is still a possibility, then this last cut would be unnecessary.