Opening day is officially a day away! No better timing to wrap up our divisional previews than now...and no better division to do it with than the loaded NL West. While definitely a top heavy group, there's plenty of interesting storylines to discuss across the board. Starting out in the desert with the...
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks were a pretty above average team in 2022. Unfortunately for them, the they find themselves in the gauntlet that is the NL West.
Christian Walker is the big bat in the lineup, coming off a surge that saw him bang out 36 long balls. There's nobody on the current roster other than him that should touch those power numbers. The timeless Evan Longoria will hold down the spot opposite of him in the infield. At 37, he's still playing respectably, but is far from the player he once was. Outfielder Corbin Carroll is the name to know though. The organization's top prospect is a speed demon with a nice bat, fresh off of an eight year, $111 million extension. What a way to start out a career. His progress into a full time major leaguer should be fun to track.
Unlike their batters, Arizona's got an imposing group of pitchers. Zac Gallen is a young stud, coming off a season where he went 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA. GM Mike Hazen is going to have to heavily consider whether Gallen will be their ace of the future or worth moving for a monumental haul that could fast forward their rise to contention. Merrill Kelly and Madison Bumgarner are two reliable, veteran arms that'll either help fuel a playoff push or be moved for whenever that eventually is.
Seems like this team has a mountain of potential; April, May and June should give us an idea of whether they'll be able to realize it this season or not.
Colorado Rockies
Maybe my all-time favorite NL team here, the Colorado Rockies have one of the most iconic stadiums in any sport. Unfortunately, we don't have many more compliments for their current situation.
This is not a good roster, from top to bottom. CJ Cron is a decent power bat at first base, but 81 games a year at Coors Field will boost many a middling statistic at the plate. Randal Grichuk and Charlie Blackmon are adequate big league outfielders, but they're not carrying any team to the promise land. Kris Bryant returning anywhere near the form that earned him a seven year, $182 million dollar deal would help this offense exponentially.
The starting rotation is even worse, "headlined" by righty German Marquez. He'll strike out a decent bit of hitters while allowing five runs per nine. Kyle Freeland is about as mediocre as Marquez, just a little more expensive. Jose Urena...meh. Daniel Bard's a nice closer though, to say something nice about the Rockies. This team's going to stink.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers however...should be competing for the best record in the MLB. While their farm competes to be the best minor league system. Oh, how the rich stay rich.
On the corners, Freddie Freeman didn't skip a beat during his first season outside of Atlanta and seems primed to post similarly great numbers. Max Muncy needs to get his average back to a respectable spot though to help alleviate the stress from Gavin Lux's ACL tear. His 21 home runs were welcome in 2022, but a .196 BA won't cut it this season. The Miguels (Vargas and Rojas) will get the first crack at securing the middle of the infield.
Mookie Betts is the star in the outfield, both offensively and defensively. He'll patrol right while David Peralta and James Outman hold down the rest of the outfield. Not exactly the who's who that it's been in recent years, but a group that can get it done. Throw in free agent signee JD Martinez at DH too, and this offense shouldn't struggle to score.
This starting staff though...no rest for opposing batters. Ace Julio Urias is an absolute machine, followed by Tyler Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw. In 2022, the highest WHIP between the three? 0.96. Highest ERA was 2.28. This is an elite group no matter which way you cut it. Dustin May and Noah Syndegaard round things out, two pitchers who'd likely be #1 starters for a quarter of the league. Good luck to opposing hitters.
If you happen to keep a game close against such juggernauts, than you get to run into a stacked bullpen. Craig Kimbrel's departure will certainly be noticed, but Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are more than capable of picking up the slack. Yency Almonte is another nice piece of this group, and Shelby Miller was a gamble the Dodgers' depth afforded them to take. If it all gels, this could be a top pen in the league.
San Diego Padres
Sneaky pick here to steal the West after their spending spree over the last eight months. The Padres have a stacked lineup, featuring three young, dynamic talents in Manny Machado, Juan Soto and the currently-suspended Fernando Tatis Jr. Might not be a more imposing trio.
But the fun doesn't stop there! Xander Bogaerts signed an 11 year, $280 million contract to come down to San Diego from Boston over the winter. Most people have to pay for such a vacation... Fellow free agent addition Matt Carpenter will make for a nice DH, when he's not being spelled by Nelson Cruz. Jake Cronenworth is a solid first baseman as well. Not many a weak spot getting through this lineup.
The pitching staff, while not quite on LA's level, doesn't offer much respite either. Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove are a tantalizing 1-2 punch leading the way for this group. Blake Snell and Michael Wacha make up the middle of the rotation; each being journeymen type pitchers who've never really fallen off production wise. They've just got to iron out that fifth starter now.
Closer Josh Hader also needs to figure things out. The perennial stud was uncharacteristically atrocious for the Padres after bringing him over last July. If he can return to his lock down form, this team will greatly benefit from it.
San Francisco Giants
The last team of our MLB previews, the San Francisco Giants. This team really overachieved for the few months of the season before tailing off late, still outperforming expectations and finishing at .500. This year's outlook doesn't appear quite as bright.
This roster as a whole feels like a patchwork group of decent veterans that'll try to have things all click to compete. Mike Yastrzemski is the big name in the Bay Area, but he's regressed at the plate over his last two campaigns. Joey Bart is a bright, young star behind the plate. The catching prospect's numbers didn't blow anyone away in 2022, but the sky's the limit for the kid. Big shoes to fill though. Joc Peterson resigned with the club to hold down left field and will be joined by free agent additions in Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto. Not youthful, not loaded, just a steady starting nine.
Anytime Alex Cobb is an entrenched member of your pitching staff, the ceiling can't be that high. Per ESPN.com, he's currently the team's #2 starter. Yikes. Logan Webb is someone to be very excited about however. The 26 year old went 15-9 with a 2.90 ERA and should have minimal issue posting such numbers again. Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling are above average signees who should help fill the hole left by Carlos Rodon's departure. Not a terrible group, but far from the Matt Cain-Tim Lincecum-Mad Bum days.
Bold Predictions
-Zac Gallen finishes top 10 in the MLB for strikeouts
-Corbin Carroll has 40+ stolen bases
-Kris Bryant hits for 25+ home runs
-Daniel Bard records a save in over half of Rockies' wins
-Dodgers finish second in the NL West
-Their starting pitchers will lead the MLB in ERA
-Josh Hader returns to form, notching 40+ saves with an ERA under 3.50
-Juan Soto fails to hit over .260 again
-Joey Bart hits over .250 and 20+ home runs
-Ross Stripling leads the Giants in wins
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@Choppinglines
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