2022 MLB National League West Futures Odds and Picks

The San Francisco Giants won 107 games last season. Was that a one-off, or is this team primed for another pennant drive? The Los Angeles Dodgers were relegated to a wild card game even after 106 victories. And with all the cash they have at their disposal, you have to understand that they are never going to stand still.

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Speaking of standing still, that’s what the San Diego Padres did as the season entered its final third, kind of like a race horse who’s hit the brick wall. Will the additions they’ve made put them squarely into the race?

Let’s take a look at each team in the National League West (listed in alphabetical order):

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Preview 2022

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Page

To Win Division: +5000

To Win NL Pennant: +25000

To Win World Series: +50000

We have to imagine that the D-Backs will be a better team this season. After just 52 victories in 2021, we don’t know how that can’t be possible. Arizona was indeed bad enough to lose 50 out of 58 games over one dreadful stretch. One of the key additions is the new pitching coach. Brent Strom spent a lot of time with the Astros, and is very analytics-savvy. Many consider him to be the best at his job in the major leagues. And with his arrival, Zach Gallen, who had a career 2.78 ERA in 27 starts going into last season, is expected to have a rebirth. There’s not a lot to celebrate in the lineup, aside from second baseman Ketel Marte (.318 batting average last season) and the versatility of Daulton Varsho. Maybe the most interest revolves around who might be traded by the deadline. Perhaps left-hander Madison Bumgarner, if he shows a little spark, or relief pitcher Mark Melancon, who led all of baseball last year with 39 saves. Obviously those saves were for someone else (in this case San Diego).

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Colorado Rockies Team Preview 2022

Colorado Rockies Team Page

To Win Division: +4000

To Win NL Pennant: +10000

To Win World Series: +20000

The Rockies lost shortstop Trevor Story as a free agent, and he signed with Boston. Jon Gray, they’re top starting pitcher, took his 4.59 career ERA to the Texas Rangers. Right fielder Charlie Blackmon should still have something left in the tank, and the team is hoping that Kris Bryant, who won the 2016 MVP award with the Cubs, can put up some big numbers at Coors Field. Let’s not forget first baseman C.J. Cron, who had a nice .375 on-base percentage. Fun fact: southpaw starter Austin Gomber had a 2.09 ERA and 0.951 WHIP ratio in nine starts at Coors last season.

Los Angeles Dodgers Team Preview 2022

Los Angeles Dodgers Team Page

To Win Division: -225

To Win NL Pennant: +250

To Win World Series: +475

You always have to figure the Dodgers to be the best team in this division, and in just about any other season, winning 106 games would have gotten them the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Yes, they lost Max Scherzer, who was a dominant starter in his short stint with the squad, but they have added one of the premier offensive players in baseball in Freddie Freeman. Shortstop Trea Turner led all of Major League Baseball in hits and batting average in a season that was split between Washington and Los Angeles. Catcher Will Smith is no slap hitter (see what we did there?), as he blasted 25 homers. We could go on and on.

The majors’ only 20-game winner last season, Julio Arias, is penciled in as the #3 starter. So that gives you an idea of what these guys have. Walker Buehler is 31-8 over the last three seasons. Clayton Kershaw resigned as a free agent, and Trevor Bauer, another Cy Young winner, is on an” administrative leave” through at least mid-April where his off-the-field problems. From there, who knows. And to replace closer Kenley Jansen, they traded for Craig Kimbrel, who has a career 0.953 WHIP ratio with 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings. So that’s quite possibly an upgrade. Seriously, who’s beating them?

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San Diego Padres Team Preview 2022

San Diego Padres Team Page

To Win Division: +340

To Win NL Pennant: +900

To Win World Series: +1800

The Padres looked very much like a contender, at least for a wild-card spot, until they lost 34 of their last 46 games to finish under the .500 mark. Bob Melvin was brought in as the new manager, and that hiring has brought widespread praise. But San Diego begins its season behind the eight-ball, as Fernando Tatis Jr. will be out at least two months with a broken wrist. Last year he had 42 homers and 25 steals in 130 games. Manny Machado produced some numbers at third base last season (28 homers, 106 RBI). First baseman Eric Hosmer has been a disappointment since his free agent signing and is reportedly being shopped. San Diego has been able to make a couple of interesting pickups. Luke Voit, the 2020 home run champion, was available because the Yankees had nowhere to put him. And lefty starter Sean Manaea has just been acquired in a trade with Oakland, which is in “Everything Must Go” mode. Can this rotation finally come together? Maybe we’ll have to wait for Mike Clevenger, off Tommy John surgery, who now sits for a while with a knee problem.

San Francisco Giants Team Preview 2022

San Francisco Giants Team Page

To Win Division: +525

To Win NL Pennant: +1100

To Win World Series: +2000

It is obviously unreasonable to ask the Giants to win 107 games again, but can they be viable contenders for a wild-card spot, or even the division title? They will need some pieces to fall into place again. Third baseman Evan Longoria is kind of stale by now. Fortunately, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, who hit 53 homers between them, aren’t. Darin Ruf, who hit 16 homers in 262 at-bats, brings some welcome “pop” to the middle of the lineup. And Mike Yastrzemski did surprise a lot of people with 25 round-trippers. There is a challenge in replacing catcher Buster Posey, who retired. But Joey Bart is a very good prospect, and indeed one of the favorites Rookie of the Year. Carlos Rodon, a Cy Young site candidate in the American League last year, was signed as a free agent, and that’s a pretty good trade-off for Kevin Gausman, who they lost. Rodon has more upside. Gabe Kapler, who earned 28 of 30 first-place votes in last year’s Manager of the Year voting, will have “closer by committee”, and that’s quite all right.