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National League West Spring Training Betting Preview
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Spring training is here and now is the time to brush up on some of the offseason moves of each baseball team. Let's take a look at the National League Central where Houston has left for the American League and the Cincinnati Reds are the favorite. Cincinnati is 14-1 to win the World Series and 6-1 to win the National League Pennant. St. Louis is 9-1 to win the National League Pennant and 20-1 to win the World Series. The odds listed below are from Bovada.

National League Spring Training Capsules

Arizona Diamondbacks


2012 record: 81-81, third place in the NL West

Against the Money Line: $-1134

Manager: Kirk Gibson, fourth year

World Series Odds: 50-1

Key Additions: RHP Heath Bell, 3B Eric Chavez, SS Didi Gregorius, INF/OF Eric Hinske, RHP Brandon McCarthy, IF Cliff Pennington, 3B Martin Prado, OF Cody Ross,

Key Subtractions: RHP Matt Albers, RHP Trevor Bauer, C Henry Blanco, RHP Matt Lindstrom, RHP Takashi Saito.

Key Questions: Arizona gave up on OF Justin Upton and now Jason Kubel is the only power hitter in the lineup. Where else will the power come from?

Key Players: Arizona added Cody Ross from Boston, who hit 22 home runs for the Red Sox last year. They also have prospect Adam Eaton, who had 44 steals in the minor last year. 3B Martin Prado did hit 15 homers last season for Atlanta and could be moved to second or left field in 2014. 1B Kila Ka’aihue has always had the potential to hit the long ball. SS Didi Gregorius is a defensive whiz who needs to improve at the plate. He came over for P Trevor Bauer from Cincinnati.

Colorado Rockies

2012 record: 64-98 fifth place in the NL West

Against the Money Line: $-1936

Manager: Walt Weiss, first year

World Series Odds: 75-1

Key Additions: RHP Wilton Lopez, RHP Chris Volstad, 1B-3B Ryan Wheeler.

Key Subtractions:RHP Jeremy Guthrie, LHP Matt Reynolds, RHP Alex White.

Key Questions: The rotation is always a concern with the Rockies. They registered a major league-worst 5.81 ERA , so it can’t possibly get worse. LHP Jorge De La Rosa missed most of last season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, while right-handers Jhoulys Chacin (chest) and Juan Nicasio (knee)
should be back to 100%. They also need SS Troy Tulowitzki to last a full year. A groin injury limited him to just 47 games last year.

Key Players: 1B Todd Helton (.238) is coming off hip surgery and is now 39. His days of playing every day could be over. Jordan Pacheco is the top candidate at third base and hit .309 as a rookie but hit just five home runs in 475 at-bats.

Los Angeles Dodgers

2012 record: 86-76, third place in the NL West

Against the Money Line: $274

Manager: Don Mattingly, third season.

World Series Odds: 9-1

Key Additions: RHP Zach Greinke, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP HyunJin Ryu, IF-OF Skip Schumaker.

Key Subtractions: RHP Joe Blanton, OF Juan Rivera, OF Shane Victorino.

Key Questions: The Dodgers added Zach Greinke but they still have question marks with Josh Beckett (5-11, 5.23 ERA) struggling last year and Chad Billingsley coming off a partially torn elbow ligament. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Ted Lilly, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang are all possibilities this spring.

Key Players:Carl Crawford wa a dud in Boston last year, hitting just three homers and stealing only five bases before having Tommy John elbow surgery. Greinke is a top of the rotation guy if his mind is on track. Hanley Ramirez hit 24 homers between Florida and the Dodgers last year. 1B Adrian Gonzalez hit .300 for Boston last year, but just 15 homers and never seemed to adapt. He might be better suited for the National League. 

San Diego Padres

2012 record: 90-72, second place in the NL West

Against the Money Line: $448

Manager: Bud Black seventh season.

World Series Odds: 75-1

Key Additions: RHP Tyson Ross.

Key Subtractions: IF Andy Parrino.

Key Questions: The Padres didn’t lose much and didn’t add much. They are moving the fences in at Petco Park, which is great for the hitters but not for the pitchers. LHP Clatyon Richards is the only proven starter along with Edinson Volquez. Cory Luebke is coming off Tommy John elbow surgery and won’t be ready at the start of the season. Andrew Cashner throws 100mph but also is coming off a variety of injuries. 

Key Players: At second and shortstop, prospect Jedd Gyorko is expected to battle Logan Forsythe, Everth Cabrera and Alexi Amarista. Gyorko is a very good hitter, who has a .529 slugging percentage in three seasons in the minors. The shorter fencers can’t hurt CF Cameron Maybin (.243, 8, 45, 26sb) 1B Yonder
Alonso (.273, 9, 62). 3B Chase Headley (.286, 31, 115) had a breakthrough 2012 and is the team’s best overall player.

San Francisco Giants

2012 record: 94-68, first place in the NL Central (World Series champs)

Against the Money Line: $1999

Manager: Bruce Bochy, seventh season.

World Series Odds: 14-1

Key Additions: OF Andres Torres.

Key Subtractions: 1B Aubrey Huff, 2B Ryan Theriot, RHP Brian Wilson.

Key Questions: The Giants didn’t have to make a lot of moves after winning the World Series in 2012. The big question is the closer role as Sergio Rom takes over for Brian Wilson but will need help from Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez. With Aubrey Huff gone, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford will battle for the starting spot though neither has a lot of power.

Key Players: Tim Lincecum is coming off his worst year (10-15, 5.18 ERA) but did have a 2.55 ERA in the postseason. There’s not a lot of power on this team though OF Hunter Pence (24 HR with Philly and San Francisco) should provide the biggest bat. The starting pitching is still top-notch led by Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79 ERA), Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37 ERA) and Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37 ERA).