Hoffman is expected to remain in the bullpen after the Rockies announced Chi Chi Gonzalez as their fifth starter Sunday, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Due to a pair of early season off days, the Rockies haven't required a fifth starter until Monday's series opener against the Giants, so manager Bud Black waited until more than a week into the campaign to formally round out his rotation. The competition between Gonzalez and Hoffman for the final starting job was said to be close in summer camp, so the former likely won't have much margin for error as he prepares for his first outing of 2020. Expect Hoffman to work in long relief unless an opening in the rotation arises.

Hoffman tossed three scoreless innings Wednesday in his most recent intrasquad appearance, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman struck out three over the 44-pitch outing, scattering two walks and one hit. Before spring training was cancelled in mid-March, Hoffman had been locked in a tight battle with Chi Chi Gonzalez for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and it appears neither pitcher has ceded any ground in the competition during summer camp. Like Hoffman, Gonzalez also worked three scoreless innings Wednesday, so the final starting role could hinge on how the two fare in their last outing of summer camp this week. Due to a pair of off days early in the season, the Rockies could get by with a four-man rotation until Aug. 3, so both Hoffman and Gonzalez may open the campaign in bullpen roles.

Hoffman was in a tight race with Chi Chi Gonzalez for the fifth starter's spot prior to the shutdown, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He threw four scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a minor-league game in his most recent appearance of the spring, but he has given up seven runs (four earned) while striking out four in 5.2 innings against big-leaguers this spring. Hoffman has had some success by removing his changeup from his arsenal and focusing on using just his fastball and curveball, although that two-pitch mix would work better in the bullpen than in the rotation. Harding speculates that Gonzalez is the slight favorite while Ubaldo Jimenez is a dark horse candidate.

Hoffman will start Saturday in the Rockies' Cactus League opener versus the Diamondbacks, Nick Groke of The Athleticreports.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old struggled to produce attractive stats in his fourth big-league season in Colorado, recording a 6.56 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 68:34 K:BB across 70 innings. Hoffman enters spring training in a competition with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Antonio Senzatela and Peter Lambert to fill two spots near the bottom of the Rockies' starting rotation and could find himself in long-relief bullpen role or returning to the minors to begin his 2020 campaign.

Hoffman yielded two runs on two hits and three walks over five innings Sunday, striking out four batters in the win over Milwaukee. He did not factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

After allowing a two-run homer to Yasmani Grandal in the first inning, Hoffman settled in and turned in a decent outing. He struggled throughout 2019 but he allowed three or fewer runs in five of his six September starts. Hoffman ends the season with a 6.56 ERA and 68:34 K:BB over 70 innings.

Hoffman (knee) will start Sunday's game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

He suffered a right knee contusion when a comebacker off the bat of Alex Dickerson knocked him out of his start Tuesday but thankfully avoided a more serious injury. Hoffman has a 5.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 21:13 K:BB in 24.2 innings (five starts) in September.

Hoffman was diagnosed with a right knee contusion after exiting Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Giants in the fourth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman was on the receiving end of an Alex Dickerson comebacker and needed to be carted off the field after receiving attention from trainers, but X-rays conducted later in the night cleared him of any structural damage to his knee. According to the Associated Press, Hoffman said he remains hopeful to start the Rockies' final game of the season Sunday against the Brewers, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team elected to err on the side of caution and hold him out even if he rebounds well from the injury.

Hoffman exited his start Tuesday against the Giants in the fourth inning on a cart after getting hit on the right leg by a 99.6-mph linedrive, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

EDGE Analysis

He gave up three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three in 3.1 innings before Alex Dickerson's linedrive knocked Hoffman out of the game. The fact he needed assistance to get off the field is discouraging. Hoffman is currently scheduled to start again on the final day of the season against the Brewers but that start is very much up in the air.

Hoffman allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts across 5.1 innings during a no-decision against the Mets on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old pitched quite well, departing with a lead, but the Rockies bullpen gave up five runs after he left. Hoffman has won just one of his last 10 outings, but this was probably the first time where it was the bullpen's fault. Hoffman hasn't pitched deep into games, and in some cases, he's given up a lot of runs. He is 2-6 with a 6.71 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 61.2 innings across 16 appearances including two 13 starts this season. He will face the Giants next on the road Wednesday.

Hoffman (2-6) picked up the win in Friday's 10-8 victory over the Padres, giving up four runs on four hits and six walks over 5.1 innings while striking out four.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander's final line could have been much, much worse considering the free passes and the typically wild Coors Field affair going on around him -- the two teams combined for five homers and 14 extra-base hits -- but Hoffman managed to do just enough to escape with the win. He'll take a 7.03 ERA and 58:27 K:BB through 56.1 innings into his next start Wednesday, at home against the Mets.