MLB win totals: NL West over or under according to Vegas
By Travis Koch
MLB win totals: NL West over or under according to Vegas
Colorado Rockies
Win Total: 74
Prediction: Under
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Same story, different year for the Rockies. They’ll hit, but they won’t pitch. We’re talking about a team that had the worst ERA in the National League in 2019. And they plan on presenting the same bunch of pitchers in 2020!
There is still a chance Colorado trades premier third baseman Nolan Arenado before the start of the regular season. Consider their season done before it starts if they do. So much pressure will fall on their offense day in and day out; they can’t afford coinciding poor games from their core of Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story, and Daniel Murphy.
The Rockies have a tremendous set-up/closer combination if they’re able to get to it. They ranked 21st in MLB last season with only 52 save opportunities.
This will be a year to forget for Rockies fans. Take the under 74.
San Diego Padres
Win Total: 83
Prediction: Under
Caesars expects the Padres to win 12 more games than last year. San Diego added Tommy Pham, Jurickson Profar, and Trent Grisham to their offense. They also added Zach Davies and Garrett Richards (returning from Tommy John) to their rotation, and Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan to their bullpen.
Their rotation is quite inexperienced aside from Davies. Expectations are very high for 24-year-old pitcher Chris Paddack. They are also expecting second-year pitchers Dinelson Lamet and Joey Lucchesi to carry a significant load.
It’s difficult to say whether the Padres’ offense will be good, average, or bad. They have upside with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Eric Hosmer, but what will they get out of Pham, Profar, and Wil Myers?
My gut says San Diego will have a tough time scoring runs. I also think they will play a ton of close games, which plays favorably thanks to their outstanding bullpen. Kirby Yates was the top closer in MLB in 2019, Craig Stammen and Andres Munoz are coming off solid seasons, and Pomeranz and Pagan are set for success in their new uniforms.
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If I were managing the Padres, I’d strongly consider trying the “opener” strategy that the Tampa Bay Rays have popularized. They’ll limit their young arms and play to their strong bullpen.
This is a very tough call, but I think the San Diego Padres come just shy of 83 wins.