NL West Division Betting Preview 2/20/2019 Predictions & Odds

NL West Division Prediction & Odds

The Dodgers have won the National League West in six consecutive seasons and are the runaway favorite to win for a seventh straight year heading in 2019. Does any other team in the West stand a chance of upsetting L.A.?

Los Angeles Dodgers

While the Giants have had the most World Series success of any team in the National League West over the past 10 seasons, the Dodgers remain the clash of the division heading into 2019. According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Dodgers are the clear frontrunners to repeat as NL West champs at 1/4 odds. They lost Manny Machado in free agency but the return of Corey Seager at shortstop softens the blow. They also acquired catcher Russell Martin from the Blue Jays in a three-player deal and signed centerfielder A.J. Pollock to a four-year contract. The Dodgers beefed up their bullpen with the signing of Joe Kelly to a three-year contract as well.

Colorado Rockies

After finishing second in the NL West, beating the Cubs on the road in the National League Wild Card game and advancing to the NL Divisional Series, the Rockies have the next-best odds to win the division at 5/1. Colorado’s big acquisition this offseason was signing free agent Daniel Murphy to a two-year contract but other than that, the Rockies stayed relatively pat.

San Diego Padres

The Padres just made the biggest splash in free agency by signing superstar Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300 million contract. He’ll slide in behind Ian Kinsler and in front of 2018 free agent signing Eric Hosmer to give San Diego’s offense a much-needed punch. Wil Myers and Franmil Reyes will round out the first five in the Padres’ lineup. Whether or not San Diego has enough pitching to actually contend for a NL West title remains to be seen.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks already waved the white flag by trading Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals for three prospects and not re-signing free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin (Diamondbacks). After years of trying to compete with the Dodgers in the division, the Diamondbacks are now 30/1 long shots to win the West. They still have decent pitching and Luke Weaver, who was one of the three players acquired from St. Louis, has excellent stuff as a No. 4. Still, this club now has a massive void in the middle of its lineup without Goldschmidt.

San Francisco Giants

How the mighty of fallen. After winning the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, the Giants are in massive need of a facelift. They hired a new GM in Farhan Zaidi but it will take him some time to revamp a farm system that had be decimated by years of trading top prospects at the deadline. Instead of trading players like Madison Bumgarner this offseason, Zaidi stood pat but things could change at the deadline when the Giants are expected to be out of contention. The team did add Cameron Maybin, Yangervis Solarte, Gerardo Parra and Stephen Vogt this offseason, as well as re-signed Derek Holland and signed free agent Drew Pomeranz, but none of those players are difference makers. This club will look drastically different in a few years. For now, they’re 40/1 long shots to win the NL West.

NL West Quick-Hit Prediction

There is no value in their 1/4 odds but there’s no sense in fading the Dodgers. They should win the division, as they have the most firepower at the start of the year and have proven that they will add at the deadline if need be. The Rockies and Padres do have some value, although they’re likely to still come up short because of their pitching, while the Diamondbacks and Giants are basically rebuilding, although in much different ways.

2019 National League Central Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers 1/4