NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST 2019 SEASON PREVIEW

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League West every year since 2013. Will they win another divisional title when the 2019 MLB season is over?

Over the years, the National League West has been the playground of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have won the division every year since 2013, a run of success that is presently unmatched in the majors. Other teams have occasionally pushed Los Angeles for the title, but over the past six years, the results have been the same.

Perhaps that will change at the end of the 2019 MLB season. Perhaps this will be the year that another team steps up, and claims the division from the Dodgers. After all, Los Angeles did not really add much this offseason, and did lose Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, and Yasmani Grandal, amongst others. The problem is, even those teams that did make moves this offseason may not have enough.

The Dodgers have a thin margin for error based on last season. The Rockies were only a game back at the end of 2018, and are hoping to take a step forward this year. San Diego added Manny Machado, the second consecutive offseason that they made a splash in free agency. Arizona may have lost Patrick Corbin and traded Paul Goldschmidt, but they still feel they can contend. The division may not be a foregone conclusion.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have six consecutive division titles. Will they add a seventh when the 2019 MLB season comes to an end?

5. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

At the beginning of the decade, the San Francisco Giants were a dynasty, winning three World Series in five years. They appeared to have magic in those even numbered years, finding ways to win.

Those days are long gone. Yes, some pieces of the glory days remain, such as Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Brandon Belt, but this is not the same Giants team. That was noticeable in their approach to the offseason, when the biggest signings were Cameron Maybin, Yangervis Solarte, Gerardo Parra on minor league contracts.

That is not to say that the major league side was ignored. Derek Holland was brought back, and the Giants made a low cost signing with Drew Pomeranz to fill out the rotation. They attempted to land Bryce Harper to add an actual major league caliber outfielder to the roster, but came up short.

Right now, the focus for the Giants during the 2019 MLB season is to find pieces for the future. That may involve making several difficult decisions when it comes to the trade deadline, particularly with the likes of Bumgarner. However, if the Giants are going to contend once again, that is the direction the franchise will need to take.

The San Francisco Giants began the decade as a candidate for the Team of the 2010s. Now, they are ending the decade in a desperate need of a rebuild, those glory days far behind.

4. SAN DIEGO PADRES

After emerging as a late entrant in the Manny Machado Sweepstakes, the San Diego Padres came away with the top free agent this offseason. It just is not enough.

Obviously, that was not the only move the Padres made this offseason. They also signed Ian Kinsler, who will play at second until Fernando Tatis Jr. is ready for the major leagues. Garrett Richards signed a two year deal, but will miss the 2019 MLB season. Adam Warren was brought in to help shore up the bullpen. The Padres were fairly active, with an eye to the future.

The problem is that those moves were not enough. If San Diego is going to contend this year, they need to address the starting rotation. A rotation fronted by Joey Lucchesi and Eric Lauer just is not enough to contend in the NL West.

The pieces for the rotation are coming. Chris Paddack should make his debut this season, while the likes of MacKenzie Gore and Adrian Morejon should be up in the next year or two. With the pieces that the Padres have added to the lineup on long term deals, it is easy to see when they expect that window of contention to open.

The San Diego Padres time will come. It just will have to wait a bit longer.

3. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

There were be a few missing players when the Arizona Diamondbacks take the field for the 2019 MLB season. However, that does not mean that they have thrown in the towel on the season.

Paul Goldschmidt was traded away to the St. Louis Cardinals, bringing back three pieces for the future, including Luke Weaver and Carson Kelly, who could help this season. Patrick Corbin was lost in free agency, but Weaver is expected to fill his spot in the rotation. David Peralta was brought in to replace A.J. Pollock. Greg Holland was signed to help shore up the bullpen, and the intriguing Merrill Kelly is back from Korea, slotted into the Arizona rotation.

The Diamondbacks still have a solid roster. Zach Greinke and Robbie Ray are still fronting the rotation. Archie Bradley is finally going to get his chance to close, and the bullpen should be solid. The lineup should provide plenty of pop, and Arizona should have a solid pitching staff.

It just may not be enough. There really is not a way to replace a player like Goldschmidt in the lineup. The loss of Corbin, a top of the rotation arm, and another ace for the rotation, will likewise hurt. The Diamondbacks did what they could to improve the roster, but the losses are far more than they may be able to overcome.

The Arizona Diamondbacks should be a solid team this season. While they are not willing to rebuild just yet, they may not have a choice in the coming years.

2. COLORADO ROCKIES

The Colorado Rockies biggest moves did not involve bringing in new players, but rather, keeping what they already had.

Yes, Daniel Murphy was brought in, presumably to handle first base. Another first baseman, Mark Reynolds, was brought in as well. But the biggest move for Colorado involved making certain that Nolan Arenado was not going anywhere, as he signed an eight year extension. The Rockies will also have stability in the dugout, with Bud Black signing a three year extension of his own.

While those moves will help the long term situation for the Rockies, the key to the 2019 MLB season will be their pitching staff. Last year, Kyle Freeland and German Marquez developed into viable aces, the type of pitcher that the Rockies had long sought. If Jon Gray can return to form, the Rockies rotation may be as good as any out there, words that no one ever expected to see typed.

Last season, the Rockies came within a game of knocking off the Dodgers from their perch in the NL West. It is possible that will happen this season, but only if the pitching staff can replicate their performance from last year. But will that be the case?

If so, the Colorado Rockies could be on the precipice of an impressive run of their own in the NL West. If nothing else, they will be right there at the end of the 2019 MLB season, contending either for the division or the Wild Card.

1. LOS ANGLES DODGERS

Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers are weaker than they were last year. That does not mean that they are not the team to beat.

The Dodgers still have an impressive rotation, with the great Clayton Kershaw and impressive youngster Walker Beuhler in the top two spots. However, health will be the key – Kershaw has had back issues over the past few years, and has been slowed in Spring Training. Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill have been phenomenal when on the mound, but neither pitcher is a bastion of health. The loss of Alex Wood could make a difference.

Los Angeles also does not have the depth, particularly in the outfield that it once did. Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp may not have been a part of the future, but they were solid veteran bats. A.J. Pollock was brought in as a free agent, but he is an injury risk as well.

Even with all of these question marks, the Dodgers still have plenty of depth. If a significant injury occurs in the outfield, top prospect Alex Verdugo is ready. Yasmani Grandal may be gone, but the Dodgers are waiting for Keibert Ruiz to ascend to the majors in another year or two. Ross Stripling is ready when needed, as the rotation will inevitably need his services. The Dodgers still have enough talent for a seventh consecutive NL West title.