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Astros Final Roster Predictions
September 14, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The first Spring Training game will be tomorrow (YES!) and we’ve revealed our roster predictions on every position on a few different articles leading up to the first game. Now, we finally piece together our full 25-man roster on Opening Day from the CTH staff.
Starting Nine
C Jason Castro
1B Jon Singleton
2B Jose Altuve
3B Luis Valbuena
SS Jed Lowrie
LF Evan Gattis
CF Colby Rasmus
RF George Springer
DH Chris Carter
This is the clearest picture for the Astros as it’s all but given that these nine players will be taking the field a majority of the time during the season.
Bench
C Hank Conger
UTIL Marwin Gonzalez
3B Matt Dominguez
OF Alex Presley
Conger and Gonzalez are easy picks to make the team. It was the last two that brought some interesting discussions. There’s a lot of questioning if Matt Dominguez will have a strong enough spring to make it over a fifth outfielder. Alex Presley was voted to be the team’s lone outfielder on the bench, which was tough as these leaves out names like Jake Marisnick and Robbie Grossman. Marisnick didn’t make the team was so that he could receive playing time in Triple-A.
Rotation
1. Dallas Keuchel
2. Collin McHugh
3. Scott Feldman
4. Brett Oberholtzer
5. Dan Straily
This one was almost as clear the starting nine, with the only real debate being over the fifth starter. Straily makes it over Asher Wojciechowski and dark horse Mark Appel. Also keep an eye on Brad Peacock and his recovery from his hip surgery this offseason.
Bullpen
Luke Gregerson (Closer)
Chad Qualls
Pat Neshek
Tony Sipp
Josh Fields
Joe Thatcher
Will Harris
The top five names were a given coming into the spring, so it’s really all about the last two names. The votes from the writers here at CTH leave the Astros without a long reliever, but it is possible that Will Harris can be stretched out into a long reliever if needed.
So that is our 2015 Houston Astros at the end of Spring Training. Who do you, our awesome readers, think will be on the Opening Day roster? Do you agree with the team not having a long reliever, or even just one reserve outfielder on the team? Please let us know, as this is a time we should all be talking about baseball!
Also make sure to check out below to see why you won’t see Mark Appel on the Opening Day roster, or even Carlos Correa on the Opening Day squad next year.
Next: Astros Prospects: The George Springer Effect