Call to the pen
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National League West: What Needs to Go Right for Each Team

By Michael Francis

DENVER, CO - APRIL 5: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Justin Turner #10 after hitting a fifth inning three-run homer against the Colorado Rockies during the Colorado Rockies home opener at Coors Field on April 5, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 5: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Justin Turner #10 after hitting a fifth inning three-run homer against the Colorado Rockies during the Colorado Rockies home opener at Coors Field on April 5, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher
Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher /

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West last year for the sixth consecutive season and the pennant for the second year in a row, yet they haven’t been able to win that allusive championship. Obviously, a lot has to go right for a team to have this level of sustained success and this year is no different.

The Dodgers possibly have more depth than any other team in the league, so they should be able to withstand a fair share of injuries. However, there are some key injuries that need to be less serious than they could be. Club ace, Clayton Kershaw, has been slowed this spring by a shoulder issue, another ailment on a growing list of injuries for the future hall of famer. While the Dodgers have plenty of quality arms that can start games for them, they will need a healthy and productive Kershaw come October.

The bullpen will likely be the weak spot for the 2019 Dodgers. They still have Kenley Jansen, but he isn’t the pitcher he used to be. The rest of this group is a hodgepodge of lottery tickets that need to provide quality innings. The Dodgers are of course loaded with talented assets in the minors that can be dealt mid-season to bolster this group as needed. Kenley Jansen will need to regain some of his old form and get some help from his bullpen mates if the Dodgers are going to get as far as they want to go.

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