LA Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies: Lineup predictions - April 8, 2022

The Los Angeles Dodgers will travel to Coors Field in the mile-high city on the 8th of April to face off against the Colorado Rockies in the 2022 MLB season opener.

The teams are National League West division rivals, although last year the Rockies finished the season 31.5 games behind the LA Dodgers, who came second in the division, securing a Wild Card spot. The Dodgers would eventually make it to the National League Championship Series, losing to the Atlanta Braves.

While this is a new season, the Dodgers are unsurprisingly favored along with the San Francisco Giants, while experts do not predict such fortunes for the Rockies. Here are the Opening Day lineups for both teams.

LA Dodgers Opening Day roster

OF Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Trea Turner
DH Max Muncy
C Will Smith
3B Justin Turner
2B Chris Taylor
OF Cody Bellinger
OF AJ Pollock

Pitcher: Walker Buehler

The leadoff combination of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will prove to be lethal. Betts, who got on base in nearly 40% of his at-bats last season, will hit before Freddie Freeman. Freeman, who drove in 83 baserunners with the Atlanta Braves, will likely send Betts homebound often.

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"'A lot of people can be good on paper, we gotta go and show it on the field.' Mookie Betts talks about the potential of the 2022 #Dodgers lineup" -@ SportsNet LA

A player to watch this season for the Dodgers will be catcher Will Smith, who hit 25 home runs last season—his first full season in the MLB. The 27-year-old will be hoping to solidify his spot in the order.

On the mound, it looks as though Walker Buehler will get the ball for the Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies. After going last season 16-4 with a very impressive 2.47 ERA, the top rotation spot will be up for grabs between him and Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles Dodgers most notable offseason addition, Freddie Freeman

Colorado Rockies Opening Day roster

DH Charlie Blackmon
OF Kris Bryant
3B Ryan McMahon
1B CJ Cron
2B Brendan Rodgers
OF Randal Grichuk
SS Jose Iglesias
OF Sam Hilliard
C Ellis Diaz

Starting pitcher: German Marquez

The sorrows of last season run deep into the mindset of Colorado Rockies fans. This will be their first season in five years without star shortstop Trevor Story, who signed with the Red Sox earlier this year.

Picking up the slack left by Story's departure will be Kris Bryant. The .278 career hitter signed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies this offseason. The Colorado Rockies are eyeing Bryant as a potential franchise player.

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"First look at KB in a Rockies uni" - @ Colorado Rockies

Further down the order, outfielder Randal Grichuk is back in the National League after four seasons playing in Toronto for the Blue Jays. Grichuk, 30, will hope to follow up on his 22 homers last season.

Pitching was woeful for the Colorado Rockies last season. It was a big part of the reason why they only won 74 games. In the opener, the starter looks to be German Marquez, the only Rockies pitcher with a winning record in 2021.

Both teams have hopes of big things in 2022. However, the Dodgers are a World Series favorite, while the Colorado Rockies are in a rebuilding stage. It will be interesting to see how each fares as the season goes on. Whatever happens, we can be sure both teams will be looking to start their season off right.