Predicting the 2022 NL West standings

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers should still be a playoff team, but there are more questions about the roster than there have been in recent years.

Freddie Freeman should replace Corey Seager’s production, but that also opens other questions in the lineup. Gavin Lux has to prove that he can hit enough to be a viable part of the lineup. Cody Bellinger still looks lost at the plate and his changing his batting stance daily. On the pitching side, Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney are gigantic question marks that have yet to live up to expectations. Craig Kimbrel was brought in to take over the ninth inning, but he has not been the same lockdown closer he had been in the past.

All of this means that the Dodgers are not the certainty that they had been in the past. They are still a solid team and have the money to patch over mistakes, but there are far more questions here than anyone could have anticipated. Their time atop the division may be at an end for now.

1. San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres were the darlings of the offseason last year and expected to contend for the NL West. Then they fell flat on their faces.

There are still issues with the roster. Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to miss time at the start of the season, as is Mike Clevinger. They do not have a proven closer on the roster. Eric Hosmer is still in San Diego despite their best efforts to move on from him.

And yet, despite those issues, the Padres are the most talented team in the division. The same could have been said last year as well however, and we all know how that turned out. The difference is that they have a strong presence on the bench in Bob Melvin who has a knack of getting the best out of his roster. Bringing Melvin on board could make a major difference and allow the Padres to reach their potential.

Who do you think will take home the NL West title? Let us know in the comments below!