Let’s face it: the National League West has just been a two-team race between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants for the past half-decade or so.
This year, both California-based ball clubs are still primed to have outstanding seasons. However, the rest of the division appeared to have also made some drastic changes, which should make for a more interesting division race this 2016.
Let’s get up-close with each of the NL West’s World Series hopefuls below, as well as our prediction for the eventual division title winner from this Pacific bunch. Afterwards, head on over to our in-depth previews for the East and Central divisions to be on top of all the other offseason activity in the National League.
MLB World Series News and Previews
- Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins Preview –August 17, 2017
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – August 17, 2017
- Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers Betting Preview – August 17, 2017
2016 National League West Preview
Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 Record: 92-70
Key Additions: GM Dave Roberts, SP Scott Kazmir, SP Kenta Maeda, RP Joe Blanton
Key Departures: GM Don Mattingly, SP Zach Greinke, SS Jimmy Rollins, RP Jim Johnson
Nevertheless, having the best pitcher in all of baseball in Clayton Kershaw certainly helps the Dodgers a whole lot. Then again, their overall depth in the starting rotation and bullpen remains suspect, even with the additions of Scott Kazmir and Japanese sensation Kenta Maeda.
Los Angeles could’ve also made a bit more noise in free agency after the loss of Greinke by they missed out on Aroldis Chapman, who went to the Yankees and Hisashi Iwakuma due to medical concerns. Still, the team has enough firepower in the batting order to make up for the questionable pitching roster.
If proven veterans in Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford can stay healthy together, and youngsters like Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig take their respective games to the next level, Dodger Blue could very well make it four-consecutive division pennants, as well as make the team’s backers at +125 happy customers.
San Francisco Giants
2015 Record: 84-78
Key Additions: SP Johnny Cueto, SP Jeff Samardzija, OF Denard Span
Key Departures: SP Tim Lincecum, SP Ryan Vogelsong, SP Mike Leake, RP Jeremy Affeldt, OF Nori Aoki
Outlook: Two simple words: even year.
If the baseball gods truly bestow the San Francisco Giants a World Series title every other year, 2016 is all but a forgone conclusion that the team will win it all again this season. Maybe that’s also why the oddsmakers have pegged San Francisco as the slim +120 frontrunner to win the division.
The Giants are known to have a spectacular system in developing homegrown talent. Their recent and most successful projects include Matt Duffy, Joe Panik, and Brandons Crawford and Belt. We haven’t even mentioned the league’s best hitting catcher in Buster Posey yet at that.
However, the Giants did something rather uncharacteristic this offseason: splurge on top names in free agency. Adding Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to the starting rotation more than fixes the team’s supposed strength that was pretty erratic last season, yet this unlikely method at building another title contender is quite the uncharted territory for the Giants.
Still, SanFo has the luxury of playing in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, so its new prized recruits will likely find more to love than hate at pitching in the Bay Area for most of the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2015 Record: 79-83
Key Additions: SP Zach Greinke, SP Shelby Miller, RP Tyler Clippard
Key Departures: SP Jeremy Hellickson, OF Ender Inciarte, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Outlook: The Arizona Diamondbacks are probably so sick of the Dodgers and the Giants ruling over the division that they were obliged to finally shake things up out West.
The team did just that, and more. The D’Backs snatched phenomenal Zach Greinke from under Los Angeles’ table with a $200M+ million contract, then also acquired standout Cardinals starter Shelby Miller for good measure.
Arizona probably hopes that this one-two punch of Greinke and Miller in the starting rotation would be enough to contend for the division crown, because the team’s depth at relief – even with the addition of hot-and-cold Tyler Clippard – is still a pressing concern. Thankfully, most of the Diamondbacks’ formidable offensive lineup is still intact – one that ranked second in the NL in runs scored last season (720).
With dominant performances from their new stars on the mound coupled with stellar seasons from the 2-3-4 order of their batting order in A.J. Pollock, Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta, the D-Backs can very well prove that they are deserving of the +400 price that the bookies gave them at winning the NL West for the first time five years.
San Diego Padres
2015 Record: 74-88
Key Additions: GM Andy Green, OF Jon Jay, RP Fernando Rodney, C Christian Bethancourt
Key Departures: GM Bud Black/Pat Kennedy, OF Justin Upton, RP Craig Kimbrel, SP Ian Kennedy, 1B Yonder Alonso
Outlook: It’s really hard to tell where the San Diego Padres are headed. They spent big in free agency last season, only to have it blow up in their faces.
This year, San Diego has a new GM running the club in Andy Green, but made no game-changing deals in the offseason as well. Well, not unless you count Jon Jay and Fernando Rodney as truly groundbreaking signings, that is.
That leaves the Padres under the veteran care of outfielders Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton, and that’s not really saying much judging from their respective forms of late.
Throw in the fact that starting pitcher James Shields is not pitching like the ace that he ought to be in Southern California with little to no help behind him, and the Padres at a distant +2,800 at winning the division sounds just about right indeed.
Colorado Rockies
2015 Record: 68-94
Key Additions: OF Gerardo Parra, RP Jason Motte, 1B Mark Reynolds
Key Departures: OF Corey Dickerson, 1B Justin Morneau, RP John Axford, RP Jake McGee
Outlook: If the Padres have you guessing as for where they’re headed in 2016, the Colorado Rockies all but made sure that there’ll be no surprises coming from their end.
In essence, the Rockies are playing for the future as early as this campaign. They made underwhelming moves to acquire mid-tier talents in the likes of Gerardo Parra and Jason Motte to “boost” their offense that already benefits greatly from run magnet Coors Field itself, and their starting rotation frankly looks like a joke. Hey, when you have Jorge De La Rosa as your ace atop the order, you know you’re in for a long season.
Colorado is still waiting on their vast amount of prospects – a handful from last year’s Troy Tulowitzki deal to the Blue Jays – to come to fruition, so reaching the .500 mark is quite the miraculous feat for the team this season. With that in mind, take the Rockies and their price of +5,000 at your own risk.
Writer’s Prediction
Even year magic it is; the Giants (+120) take home the NL West pennant.
Create a betting account now just in time before the MLB regular season takes to the mound.
