As Major League Baseball kicks off its 2023 regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are again the favorites to reign supreme in the National League West division.
According to GlobusBet, the Dodgers hold the shortest World Series odds at +700, tied with the Houston Astros as the MLB favorites. However, the Dodgers will have to get past some real competition in their division before they can think about a World Series appearance, including the San Diego Padres, who are +1200 to win the World Series and +500 to win the West Division.
With a franchise-best record of 111-51 last season, the Dodgers are seeking their 10th division title in the past 11 years. However, the San Diego Padres, with their impressive lineup of high-profile hitters, are looking to dethrone the Dodgers and claim their first division crown since 2006. While the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies are not expected to be serious contenders, as proven in the past, anything can happen in baseball.
Dodgers are the Favorite
The Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the West division last year, finishing 22 games ahead of the San Diego Padres. Despite their regular season success, the Dodgers were eliminated in the NLDS by the Padres in just four games. Some may wonder if this signals the end of the Dodgers’ long-standing dominance, but history suggests otherwise. The last team to win their division by at least 22 games, the 1998 New York Yankees, went on to win the World Series.
The Dodgers suffered a major loss during free agency when standout shortstop Trea Turner signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Turner was a key contributor to the Dodgers’ success, ranking in the top three in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, while also leading the team in stolen bases. In addition, Gavin Lux, who could have taken over at shortstop, is out for the season with a torn ACL. The Dodgers plan to insert veteran Miguel Rojas, who hit .236 with six home runs last year.
Despite the loss of Turner, the Dodgers still have two recent MVPs in their lineup. Mookie Betts, who won the award in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox, led all Dodgers sluggers with 35 home runs last year. First baseman Freddie Freeman, the NL MVP in 2020, contributed 21 home runs and 100 RBIs while posting a team-best .325 batting average in 2022. J.D. Martinez, a veteran DH, was the team’s best free-agent pickup.
On the mound, the Dodgers have one of the strongest pitching staffs in the league. Julio Urias, who had a 17-7 record with a 2.16 ERA last season, will be the Opening Day starter. He’ll be joined by Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw, who had a 12-3 record with a 2.28 ERA, and Tony Gonsolin, who had a 16-1 record with a 2.14 ERA.
Despite losing Turner and Lux, the Dodgers remain poised to win over 100 games for the fifth time in six full seasons. Their pitching staff has allowed the fewest earned runs in the league for the past four seasons, and they outscored their opponents by an astounding 334 runs last year. The only question is whether their division rivals, particularly the Padres, Giants, and Diamondbacks, will play at a higher level than they did last year. Nonetheless, the Dodgers are again primed for a strong season and will be a team to watch throughout the year.
Padres in the Hunt
The San Diego Padres had a memorable postseason in 2022, starting with their upset of the 101-win New York Mets in the Wild Card round and culminating in their stunning defeat of the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Although the Padres’ run ended in the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, they are heading into the new season with a positive outlook.
The Padres will be bolstered by the return of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who will be available after serving a PED suspension. He’ll join third baseman Manny Machado, outfielder Juan Soto, and recently acquired former Red Sox standout shortstop Xander Bogaerts in a formidable lineup. Tatis had 47 home runs in just 130 games in 2021, while Machado hit 32 and Soto had 27. Bogaerts was the leading hitter for the Red Sox with a .307 batting average. First baseman Jake Cronenworth also had a solid season with 88 RBIs.
The Padres’ pitching staff is led by veteran right-hander Yu Darvish, who had a 16-8 record and a 0.95 WHIP. Right-hander Joe Musgrove is also a vital part of the rotation, but he’ll miss at least his first two starts as he recovers from a toe injury. Hard-throwing left-hander Blake Snell, who averages 12 strikeouts per nine innings, will start on Opening Day. Standout left-hander Josh Hader is also available in relief when needed.
With a lineup that rivals modern-day Murderers’ Row and a solid pitching staff, the Padres are poised for another strong season. The return of Tatis and the addition of Bogaerts only add to their impressive offensive firepower. The Padres will look to build on their success from last year and make a run at their first World Series appearance in 24 years.
Never Count out the Giants
After setting a franchise record for wins in 2021, the San Francisco Giants experienced a significant drop in victories last season, finishing with 81 wins. However, they want to bounce back this year by acquiring former New York Mets slugger Michael Conforto. Conforto returns to the game after sitting out last season due to shoulder surgery. In his last full season, he hit 33 home runs, a feat that the Giants hope he can replicate.
The Giants failed to acquire Aaron Judge from the Yankees and Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins. Still, they have strengthened their starting rotation with the acquisitions of Sean Manaea from the San Diego Padres and Ross Stripling from the Toronto Blue Jays. Manaea is a former Oakland Athletics star, and Stripling is a former Dodgers star-in-the-making who spent the past three seasons in Canada. These two additions will complement the Giants’ ace, Logan Webb, who had a 15-9 record with a 2.90 ERA last season.
Despite their drop in wins last season, the Giants still have a solid foundation. They have a strong starting rotation and a lineup that includes Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt. With the addition of Conforto, the Giants hope to bolster their offense and compete in what should be a competitive NL West division. The Giants will need to improve their performance from last season, but they have the pieces to contend again.
Gallen Can’t Carry the Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks enter the 2023 MLB season with high hopes for success, and much of their chances hinge on the performances of several key players. Right-hander Zac Gallen is one of those key players, as he had a sensational season in 2022, going 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. His strong pitching has earned him a spot tied for sixth on the NL Cy Young odds board, with a +1200 FanDuel rating.
Another important player for the Diamondbacks is Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker, who led the team in homers with 36. His defensive prowess and power at the plate will be vital for the team’s success. The team’s new $111-million man, left fielder Corbin Carroll, also brings an unknown factor. Carroll has been referred to as the fastest man in baseball and stole 33 bases last season, but his 31 strikeouts in only 115 MLB plate appearances are cause for concern.
Righty Merrill Kelly is also expected to be a key player for the Diamondbacks, as he is coming off an outstanding season with a 13-8 mark, a 3.37 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. Despite the success of these players, the team’s success may be limited by the performance of veteran lefty starter Madison Bumgarner, who is in his 14th MLB season and was 7-15 in 2022. At 33 years old, many fans and analysts question if Bumgarner’s best days are behind him.
Overall, the Diamondbacks have a talented team poised for success in the 2023 MLB season. With strong performances from players like Gallen, Walker, and Kelly, they have the potential to compete for a playoff spot. However, Bumgarner’s performance and Carroll’s unknown factor may limit the team’s success. Regardless, the Diamondbacks will be an exciting team to watch this season.
Rockies will Struggle
The Colorado Rockies are a team that has struggled to find success in the 30 years since they entered the league. Although they won the 2007 pennant as a Wild Card and tied with the Dodgers for the West title in 2018, they have never won a division title. In the past three full seasons, the Rockies have finished more than 36 games off the West pace and even ended up 17 games out in the shortened 2020 COVID season.
One area of concern for the Rockies last year was their pitching. They had the league’s worst ERA (5.07) for the fourth time in the past 11 seasons. Since 2000, only two teams have gone from worst on the chart to earning a playoff berth — the last being the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. This means the Rockies have a tough road ahead if they hope to make the playoffs this year.
Despite their struggles, there are some bright spots on the Rockies’ roster. First baseman C.J. Cron is back after hitting a team-high in homers last year, and second baseman Brendan Rodgers, the team’s leading hitter (.266), also returns. However, Rodgers suffered a shoulder injury this spring and could miss most of the season. This is a blow to the Rockies’ offense, as Rodgers was a key contributor in 2021.
There is a glimmer of hope for the Rockies, though. Last year, the Baltimore Orioles had the worst team ERA this century (5.84) but improved by 31 victories by lowering their ERA to 3.93. If the Rockies can make similar improvements to their pitching staff, they may be able to surprise some people this season.
