Nl West Preview: The Dodgers Should Be Heavy Favorites, But The Padres Could Surprise

It’s nan Dodgers, and everyone else, successful nan National League West this season.

The two-time defending World Series champions ponied up a mixed $309 cardinal to motion 2 free agents, world-class person Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star area outfielder Kyle Tucker.

The second-place San Diego Padres continued to trim payroll, bidding farewell to free agents Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. The San Francisco Giants’ offseason highlight: becoming nan first MLB squad to make a assemblage coach pinch nary master shot coaching acquisition their manager. The 47-year-old Tony Vitello comes connected committee aft coaching nan Tennessee Volunteers for nan past 8 seasons.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are attempting to bounce backmost aft pursuing up a 2023 World Series quality pinch 2 underwhelming seasons. And nan Colorado Rockies are starting caller yet again, replacing wide head Bill Schmidt pinch Paul DePodesta, who, aft moving for nan Dodgers and different MLB teams, astir precocious served arsenic nan Cleveland Browns’ main strategy serviceman for nan past 10 years.

2025 | 93-69, 1st successful West

Last twelvemonth successful playoffs | 2025

The Dodgers will unfastened nan play pinch a grounds payroll, to spell pinch sky-high expectations, arsenic nan squad vies for baseball’s first three-peat since nan New York Yankees won 3 consecutive World Series titles betwixt 1998 and 2000. The Dodgers stay nan dependable favorites, but 7 of their 9 regular position players are connected nan different broadside of 30. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández each showed signs of regression past season. The Dodgers person been bitten by nan wounded bug complete nan past 2 years, particularly successful their rotation and bullpen. Pitchers Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips will each unfastened nan play connected nan injured list. How will Roki Sasaki’s 2nd effort arsenic a personnel of nan pitching rotation go? With each this successful mind, expect Dave Roberts to negociate his nine accordingly. Don’t expect nan Dodgers to weapon for nan 2001 Seattle Mariners’ triumph grounds of 116. Expect load management, arsenic nan Dodgers gait themselves pinch nan extremity of a patient roster entering postseason play.

2025 | 90-72, 2nd successful West

Last twelvemonth successful playoffs | 2025

Despite a middling September — nan Padres went 14-11 successful nan last period of nan play — nan nine vanished only 3 games backmost of nan Dodgers. Though nan nine mislaid immoderate cardinal pieces complete nan winter, nan Padres still boast a lockdown bullpen featuring Mason Miller, and a potent lineup starring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. After an awesome rookie season, Jackson Merrill struggled to find his footing successful his 2nd year, landing connected nan IL 3 abstracted times. Merrill could beryllium this season’s breakout prima successful nan National League. If he takes a leap and nan Padres enactment healthy, this nine could surprise.

2025 | 81-81, 3rd successful West

Last twelvemonth successful playoffs | 2021

Since nan Chicago Cubs eliminated nan Giants from nan 2016 NLDS, nan nine has made nan postseason conscionable once. Newcomers Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader should supply magnitude to their lineup. Bader enjoyed a resurgent 2025 wherever he slashed .277/.347/.449 while playing plus-defense, earning himself a two-year, $20.5-million deal. Arraez saw a 22-point dip successful batting mean past play from 2024, but maintained a low-strikeout complaint (3.1%). Right-side infield defense will beryllium a mobility people pinch Arraez returning to 2nd guidelines and Rafael Devers manning first. The Giants should get bully magnitude retired of starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Logan Webb. Webb led nan National League successful innings sounded for nan 3rd consecutive season.

2025 | 80-82, 4th successful West

Last twelvemonth successful playoffs | 2023

Since their miraculous tally to nan World Series successful 2023 — a postseason successful which they bludgeoned nan Dodgers, outscoring their divisional foes 19-6 successful a three-game expanse successful nan NLDS — nan Diamondbacks person missed nan playoffs successful each of nan past 2 seasons. The nine will apt beryllium without 2 of their champion 3 starting pitchers to unfastened nan season, arsenic Corbin Burnes useful his measurement backmost from Tommy John room and Merrill Kelly deals pinch lingering intercostal nervus irritation. With head Torey Lovullo entering his 10th play pinch nan nine and nan last twelvemonth of his contract, could his spot beryllium heating up?

2025 | 43-119, 5th successful West

Last twelvemonth successful playoffs | 2018

Under caller president of shot operations Paul DePodesta, nan Rockies will look to move nan page from a play to hide successful 2025. Having played conscionable 170 games done his first 4 seasons pinch nan Rockies — posting a minus-WAR (Wins Above Replacement) successful 3 of them — Kris Bryant’s early remains successful mobility arsenic he deals pinch a degenerative disk disease. He will unfastened nan play connected nan 60-day IL. The nine saw committedness past twelvemonth from 25-year-old catcher Hunter Goodman and 27-year-old Mickey Moniak. The nine will dream to spot continued maturation from youngsters Ezequiel Tovar, Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle, pinch apical imaginable and 2024 Golden Spikes Award victor Charlie Condon eyeing a imaginable big-league debut this summer.