After MLB Opening Week, let’s breakdown the NL West
The National League West was full of surprises last year. The San Francisco Giants won 100 games out of nowhere, and the Padres fell short of a postseason berth. Can the Los Angeles Dodgers bring home their second title in three years with the super squad they have assembled this year?
Let’s break it down in our National League West predictions for the 2022 MLB season.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (1-2 after the first series of the season)
I’ll be honest here. I didn’t expect the Diamondbacks to be good last year, but they certainly surpassed my expectations of atrociousness. They were simply beyond dreadful last season, and I don’t see it getting much better this year.
One bright star for the team is utility player Ketel Marte, who they signed to a contract extension this offseason. He can play almost anywhere, switch hit, and usually stays healthy. Some big questions for their lineup are if catcher Carson Kelly and first baseman Christian Walker can provide valuable offensive production and take control of this lineup. Walker hit 29 homers in 2019 and it’d be great to see him replicate that.
In fact, when you look at this D-backs lineup, it’s filled with promising prospects like Kelly and Walker that really have a chance to prove themselves this year. First baseman Seth Beer was a former top 100 prospect who they got in the Zach Grienke trade. Outfielder/first baseman Pavin Smith was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft. All of these guys are going to see a lot of time and reps for the D-backs, and let’s not forget about the stellar farm system they have.
On the pitching side, there’s a decent of young talent as well. UNC product Zac Gallen was disappointing last year, but I expect him to improve significantly this year. His stuff is just too good. I think lefty Caleb Smith will bounce back as well. Let’s also not forget the pair of ACC first-round picks, righties Slade Cecconi and Bryce Jarvis who will likely be making their debuts this season.
Arizona’s future is bright. In addition to having all of this young talent, they also own the second overall pick in this year’s draft. For now, it’s growing pains and rebuilding, but I expect this squad to be revitalized in a few years.
4. Colorado Rockies (2-1 after the first series of the season)
To a casual baseball fan, it would seem as if rocket science is harder to comprehend than the Rockies’ plan for success for their franchise. First, they pay $50 million to trade their franchise third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals. Then they decide not to trade shortstop Trevor Story or starting pitcher Jon Gray at the trade deadline and just let them walk in free agency.
Then, out of nowhere, they signed outfielder Kris Bryant to a $180 million contract. Certainly an interesting series of events, and undoubtedly a series of moves with an objective lack of logic involved.
Regardless, I actually think the Rockies are going to be a little better than people think this year. I expect the same production from first baseman C.J. Cron, was a monster last year hitting .281 with 28 home runs. I loved the acquisition of outfielder Randall Grichuk. He also hit over 20 homers last year, and he’s another pure power hitter who will take full advantage of the Coors effect.
Newly extended third baseman Ryan McMahon also had a nice season as well last year, hitting .254 with 23 home runs. Then you’ve got Kris Bryant, who should absolutely rake in Coors Field. He is certainly someone to keep an eye on as a dark horse NL MVP. However, I think the most underrated part of the Rockies is their starting pitching, even after losing Jon Gray. I have no idea why starting pitching German Marquez wasn’t the Opening Day starter. He’s by far their best arm and his first All-Star appearance last season cemented him as an ace for most teams in this league. Lefty Austin Gomber was nothing short of sensational at Coors Field last season, tossing a 2.08 ERA in nine starts. This absolute domination at home gives me encouragement that he can turn his 6.22 road ERA around. Another starter I really like is Antonio Senzatela, who pitched great down the stretch for Colorado and finished with a 4.44 ERA. However, he finished with a FIP of 3.62, which means that his ERA was almost a point higher than it should have been. Then you’re left with lefty Kyle Freeland, who looked like the next Rockies ace after his rookie year. However, it seems that he’s evolved into just another run-of-the-mill Rockies starter who has a 4+ ERA every year. Hopefully, he can prove me wrong this year.
I’m not gonna touch the bullpen because it’s going to be really bad. The Rockies genuinely have a decent ball club, and it’s a real bummer they don’t have Nolan Arenado or Trevor Story to go along with this talented squad.
3. San Diego Padres (2-1 after the first series of the season)
I think I’d simply be lying if I didn’t say last year was a disappointment for the Padres. I was at the series in June where they swept the Dodgers to take first place, and it seemed as if this team had a chance to win a World Series. Instead, everything went downhill after that and the Padres missed the playoffs.
However, most of the elite roster they assembled last season returns to the squad again this year. The lineup has already taken a massive blow to start the season, with franchise player shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. breaking his wrist. He’ll be out for around two months, which means third baseman Manny Machado and utility player Jake Cronenworth must establish themselves early to lead this lineup. Adding first baseman Luke Voit to the mix was a nice move, as he’ll provide some more power and production to this lineup. With Voit, the Padres now also won’t have to start Eric Hosmer every day.
Speaking of lefties, I’m interested to see the production of outfielder Trent Grisham this year. Remarkably, Grisham hit .236 against righties last year, which has to improve if he plans on leading off for a playoff contender. After many trade rumors, outfielder Wil Myers was never dealt. I’m sure Padres fans are thrilled about this, as he’s been a really good offensive producer for them for a while now and is an important piece to this lineup.
The starting rotation is back in full force, especially after their recent trade of acquiring veteran lefty starter Sean Manaea from Oakland. Manaea will join Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Mike Clevinger to form one of the best rotations the league has to offer. I’m especially excited to see Darvish this season, who is my preseason pick for the NL Cy Young Award.
Bullpen-wise, the Padres made a huge move just before opening day, acquiring CP Taylor Rodgers from the Twins for SP Chris Paddack and reliever Emilio Pagan. I like this trade a lot for San Diego. They had a desperate need for a closer, and I’m not very high on Pagan or Paddack. Pagan seemed to have lost his magic once he was traded from Tampa to San Diego, and Paddack simply hasn’t been good since his rookie season.
Don’t forget about young lefties Ryan Weathers and Adrian Morejon, who are real key pieces to this pitching staff. They both have electric young arms and can give quality innings out of both starting and relief roles. Is Craig Stammen still someone who can pitch in high-leverage situations? I have my doubts.
Here’s one thing I do know … the Padres will be a strong contender when Fernando Tatis returns from the IL.
2. San Francisco Giants (2-1 after the first series of the season)
Being the intense baseball fan I am, it was hilarious yet also mind-boggling seeing the Giants win 107 games last season. It was awesome to see random guys like OF Lamonte Wade Jr. step up and get a clutch hit against the Dodgers, and then have the sidearmed Tyler Rogers throwing his 84 MPH fastball to close out the game. Seeing guys who we have never heard of, and guys who have been cut by other teams give fits to the Dodgers was really fun to watch.
The Giants lost some key pieces this offseason but also spent their money very nicely in free agency. Losing starter Kevin Gausman is unfortunate, but they will receive a high compensation pick in return. My gut tells me the reason they didn’t want to pay him big money is based on his performance against the Dodgers last year.
They replaced Gausman with lefty Carlos Rodon, inking him to a two-year deal. It was an interesting signing. He has Cy Young potential stuff, but he is also very injury-prone, and I feel like the Giants value durability. Another big move was resigning starting pitcher Anthony Desclafani to a three-year deal, rewarding him for his breakout season. Desclafani is now the blueprint of a typical Giants player. Last year, he was a free agent that almost no one was interested in, and he signed with the Giants for very little money. He then broke out with his best season yet, boasting a 3.17 ERA.
But let’s not forget the biggest breakout Giant of last year. Starting pitcher Logan Webb was nothing short of sensational last year. He topped off his incredible regular season by giving up just one earned run in 14.2 innings pitched against the Dodgers in the playoffs, and he is now one of the best starters in our game. Alex Wood was also resigned, who will chip in with some valuable innings both out of the bullpen and starting roles. Same with the underrated Dominic Leone, who gave valuable innings down the stretch for this team in multiple different roles.
The Giants bullpen is stacked, and it’s another key component that makes their pitching staff so elite. Flamethrower Camillo Doval is an absolute weapon. Doval, Jake McGee, and sidearmer Tyler Rogers are all really good closing options for San Francisco.
The Giants did have some luck last year. Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, and Buster Posey all turned the clock back last season, posting career years out of nowhere. Posey retired, and I don’t expect the same elite-level production from Crawford and Belt as they had last year. Regardless, the Giants lineup will still be very productive. The Giants copied the Rays’ philosophy of platooning players for favorable matchups, which allowed journeyman vets like Darin Ruf, Wilmer Flores, and Tommy La Stella to have very productive offensive seasons. It’s clear that the Giants, like Tampa, have revolutionized baseball. The Giants don’t have a set starting lineup, as it changes daily based on the pitching matchup. The platoon-style lineup strategy keeps guys fresh for the 162-game season and maximizes offensive production.
The Giants won 107 games last year with a bunch of journeymen, random rookies, and aging vets … what’s stopping them from having a season like that this year?
Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2 after the first series of the season)
Well, I guess here’s your answer on what is stopping the Giants from winning the division again.
Where do I even start? Is it just me who has noticed what the Dodgers did? They were eliminated by the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series, and then they acquired outfielder Mookie Betts. Last season, they were eliminated by the Braves and then acquired first baseman Freddie Freeman. It just isn’t fair at this point.
Betts and Freeman are now the centerpieces of arguably one of the best lineups assembled in MLB history. The Dodgers still have infielder Trea Turner for another year, and he will likely take the #3 spot in this lineup. After joining L.A., it seemed that Turner finally got the due credit he deserved as being one of the best all-around players in our game. First baseman Max Muncy will likely protect Turner in the four hole, after coming off a career season where he mashed 36 homers and had a .370 OBP. The Dodgers lineup also possesses the best catcher in our game, 27-year-old Will Smith. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen a more dangerous hitting catcher than Smith. His defense has room to improve, but he consistently stays healthy and absolutely rakes.
Let’s also not forget third baseman Justin Turner, who at this point in my mind is a Hall of Famer. He’s a proven clutch hitter, and each year is the year “he will fall off,” yet he continues to prove everyone wrong. Will former MVP outfielder Cody Bellinger return to regular form this year? Bellinger hit a gruesome .165 last season, and his spring certainly was not encouraging after striking out 14 of 19 at-bats.
Losing Max Scherzer to Mets was a big blow for the starting rotation, which is probably the most vulnerable part of the team. With the departure of Scherzer, and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw being at the latter end of his career, it’s now time for 27-year-old Walker Buehler to be the true ace of this pitching staff. He was terrific last season, finishing fourth in Cy Young voting and throwing quality starts in the playoffs. The young and electrifying lefty Julio Urias will be relied on for quality starts as well.
The back end of the rotation is what brings question marks. Tony Gonsolin is a solid opener for two or three innings, but can he go five or six innings every start? New acquired Lefty Andrew Heaney has struggled at every turn in his career, never being able to live up to his highly touted prospect status. I’m also confident veteran lefty Tyler Anderson will get some starts, who I like a lot more than Heaney. Let’s also not forget that young stud Dustin May will rejoin the pitching staff sometime in May. He’ll certainly make an immediate impact.
I’m sure the Dodgers have some young arms lying around that can make an immediate impact. However, until that is proven true, this rotation remains a candidate for concern.
On a more positive note, the Dodgers bullpen is still loaded. Accomplished righties Daniel Hudson, Brusdar Graterol, Phil Bickford, and Blake Treinen are all back for another year. Newly acquired legend Craig Kimbrel will handle the closing duties.
Next. 5 overreactions from Opening Day series around MLB. dark
The Dodgers are my predicted World Series winner. They undoubtedly have MLB’s best roster, and their commitment to winning a championship year in and year out is stronger than any other franchise in Major League Baseball.