SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies’ bullpen, which likely fell into place on Monday, will be long on strong arms but short on experience.

The assignments of left-hander Ty Blach and right-handers John Curtiss, Matt Carasiti and Matt Koch to Minor League camp leave the Rockies with -- barring a pickup or a last-day injury -- an eight-man bullpen to start the regular season:

• RHP Justin Lawrence
• RHP Tyler Kinley
• RHP Jake Bird
• LHP Jalen Beeks
• RHP Nick Mears
• RHP Peter Lambert
• RHP Anthony Molina
• RHP Victor Vodnik

Kinley, with 202 Major League appearances, and Beeks, with 131, lead the crew. Lawrence, the likely closer, has 12 career saves (Kinley, who could also get chances, has six). The bulk of the relief experience on the Major League roster lies with righty Daniel Bard, who will begin the year on the injured list after a right knee cleanup at the start of camp and multiple PRP shots in the offseason.

Manager Bud Black believes in the talent of the group.

“I like the arms,” Black said. “I like their mentality. There’s upside potential. A lot of them aren’t finished products. There’s room to grow.

“You look at the save category, that role isn’t battle-tested. But mentally and physically, they can handle it. Now, time will tell.”

They go back

Newly acquired outfielder Jake Cave was a Single-A player in Charleston, S.C., in the Yankees system when he met P.J. Pillittere, who was starting his coaching career then. Pillittere, now the Rockies’ assistant hitting coach, worked with Cave during his climb to the Majors and was excited when the Rockies acquired Cave from the Phillies on Sunday for cash considerations.

“He brings a blue-collar mentality,” Pillittere said. “He plays really hard. You know, he's comfortable in any role that we could ask him to do because he's done it before. He's done it in the playoffs. He's done it through our regular seasons. So I think he's gonna be a good addition to the room.”

Cave arrived in Arizona after 1 a.m. on Monday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the 10-1 loss to the Brewers in Phoenix. He was happy to see a familiar face.

“We've kept in touch over the years, whether it's been about hitting or because our wives are friends -- that kind of thing,” Cave said. “It’s cool to be able to come into an organization where I have a rapport with a hitting coach.”

What's left?

By trading for Cave, a utility man, the Rockies are close to an Opening Day roster. They were comfortable with Alan Trejo last year and he has followed that up with a strong spring. They will have to make a spot on the 40-man roster to add Trejo.

With Elehuris Montero receiving starts at first base and designated hitter (his presence allows the Rockies to move Kris Bryant to right field or designated hitter, and play Charlie Blackmon at right field and DH), there is one more spot. The fourth outfield spot comes down to right-handed-hitting Sean Bouchard and switch-hitting Michael Toglia.

Bouchard has shown the ability to get on base during the regular season and a simple approach that can withstand gaps in starts and playing time. As in the previous two springs, Toglia has been strong in Spring Training. The question is whether the Rockies believe he will be better-served with regular at-bats at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Last one in the book

Rockies No. 5 starter Dakota Hudson, who is set to start April 1 against the Cubs, yielded four runs on seven hits, including three solo homers, in Monday's loss to the Brewers.

“I saw movement to the fastball, saw it a number of times,” Black said. “He got some ground balls. I thought the slider was good.”

Learning on the job

No one doubts the nastiness of Vodnik’s fastball-changeup combination, with a developing slider. But Vodnik, who made six Major League appearances last year and enters this year at No. 25 on the Rockies’ MLB Pipeline prospect rankings, has struggled this spring (10.24 ERA, five homers in 9 2/3 innings). He has nine strikeouts, but five walks.

He likely will start the season on the big league roster while the coaches work with him, but he also is a candidate to be optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque at some point -- especially with lefty Lucas Gilbreath (who will begin the season on the IL completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery) and Bard working their way back to health. The stuff is there, though, for a successful reliever at some point.

“I’m seeing what works and what doesn’t -- it’s just learning and continuing to get better,” Vodnik said. “It’s hitting my spots and not leaving my off-speed down the middle. If I do that, I’ll have more success than not.”