Preseason Preview: National League West
Opening Day is around the corner, and the rich got richer this offseason, but can anyone topple the Los Angeles Dodgers from their divisional throne?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the two-time defending World Series champions, and they just got better, adding Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker to an already potent lineup and bullpen. But Opening Day is the start of a new campaign, and while some teams' chances are slimmer at the start of the year, nothing is written in stone. Players will surprise you and break out in ways you did not see coming; juggernauts will be beaten by teams that are shorthanded in talent.
The San Francisco Giants are going into their first full season with Rafael Devers and brought in a fiery new manager in former Tennessee Volunteers head coach, Tony Vitello. The Giants aren't to be slept on, and Jung Hoo Lee is a player to watch for the Giants this season. Lee might not seem like a deep dive pick this season, but he is entering his age-27 season, and he hit .266 last season in his first full season after missing much of 2024 with a labrum tear. After seeing major league pitching for an entire season and having a fully healthy offseason, he should be ready to make the jump and could even find himself in Philadelphia for the All-Star Game.
Going back to the Dodgers, they look more dominant than ever, and with a pitching staff as deep as theirs, they will never be overlooked when it comes to the playoffs. Picking someone to watch on the Dodgers is difficult because they are so talented from top to bottom, but the one player to watch is going to be Andy Pages. Pages hit .272 with 27 home runs last season. He will get his opportunities this season, especially in a lineup that is dangerous throughout. He could break out this season in a way that nobody saw coming and could become a major player in the Dodgers' title defense efforts.
The San Diego Padres have been nipping at the Dodgers' heels for a while now, but can never conquer the mountain and claim the division for themselves. With a stout lineup featuring Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Merrill, the Padres are not lacking in star power. The piece holding the Padres back is the sheer dominance in clutch moments by Los Angeles. The Padres have the best chance to knock the Dodgers down a peg this season, but after another offseason where the rich get richer, the Padres are still going to be the little brother in Southern California. The player to watch for the Padres is going to be Freddy Fermin. Fermin split time with Salvador Perez on the Kansas City Royals and learned from the future Hall of Famer. After being traded at the deadline last year, he will enter the season fully in command of the role, and it should be exciting to see how he manages a pitching staff.
The Arizona Diamondbacks were in the World Series in 2023 but have since failed to return to October. While Corbin Carroll is still leading the charge, ace Corbin Burnes is recovering from Tommy John Surgery. The beginning of the season could be shaky for the Diamondbacks, who added Nolan Arenado to their ranks to join Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo on the infield. The Diamondbacks lineup has some pieces, and if they are in the mix for a wild-card spot, they could be in line to add at the trade deadline and really make a strong push for the playoffs. Much of the Diamondbacks' season hinges on Burnes' recovery, and he will be the player to watch when he returns. If Burnes can return from injury and be back in his Cy Young form, he will bring much-needed stability to the Arizona rotation.
The final team in the division is the Colorado Rockies. Despite poor performances over the last seven seasons and not making a postseason appearance since 2018, the Rockies have some bright pieces on their roster that will bring some excitement to Coors Field this summer. Outfielder Brenton Doyle, who broke out in 2024, is one of the most exciting bats to watch in their lineup. If he can find his power stroke once more, the Rockies might just have the right guy for the middle of their order. The player to watch, though, is Ezequiel Tovar, after a fantastic World Baseball Classic, which saw Tovar and Venezuela win the tournament. The Rockies' shortstop is primed to break through and ride the momentum this season.
The National League West may be the Dodgers' to lose, but there are a lot of exciting players to watch in the division, along with the season-long race that is always intense between the Giants, Dodgers, and Padres. The dark horse candidate may feel like a true dark horse, but when you haven't captured a division title in 20 seasons, you still qualify.
My Pick To Win: Los Angeles Dodgers
Dark Horse: San Diego Padres
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