2024 MLB Division Preview: NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers
2023 - 100-62, lost NLDS to Diamondbacks
Offseason - Signed DH/SP Shohei Ohtani, signed SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, traded/signed SP Tyler Glasnow, signed OF Teoscar Hernandez, signed SP James Paxton, resigned SP Clayton Kershaw, OF Jayson Heyward, UTL Kike Hernandez
2024 Outlook - The Dodgers had arguably the biggest offseason in MLB history after spending over a BILLION dollars on free agents and signings. The biggest prize was Shohei Ohtani who will join Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the top of the lineup. Although Ohtani will not pitch this season, LA went out and added plenty of arms, something they desperately needed. The additions of Tyler Glasnow and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto give the Dodgers a great 1-2 punch they did not have in 2023. Add in the young arms of Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone and the Dodgers have a solid rotation to start the season. Oh, and don’t forget that Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw will be returning to the rotation at some point this season. The Dodgers are once again the clear favorites to win the division but it’s what they can do in October that will define the success for this club in 2024.
Over/Under Wins Prediction - 103.5 - Over. The Dodgers won 100 games last season with a pitching staff that wasn’t even close to as good as this year’s squad. Plus you add Ohtani’s bat to that lineup!? Over for sure.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2023 - 84-78, 2nd place, NL Champs, lost World Series to Rangers
Offseason - Signed SP Eduardo Rodriguez, signed SP Jordan Montgomery, traded for 3B Eugenio Suarez, signed OF Joc Pederson, re-signed OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
2024 Outlook - The Diamondbacks shocked the world by not only making the postseason but reaching the World Series. They were a classic wild card team that got hot at the right time. They got better in the offseason, especially on the pitching side by adding Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery to pair with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to give this rotation legit depth. The lineup got better as well, adding some veteran power bats in Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suarez to join the young talent of Corbin Carrol and Christian Walker. This is a very good team coming off a great postseason run. Some may say they overachieved in 2023, but don’t expect the DBacks to fall back in 2024.
Over/Under Wins Prediction - 83.5 - Over. This is a tough division but Arizona got better in the offseason and I like what they’re building.
San Diego Padres
2023 - 82-80, missed postseason
Offseason - hired Mike Shildt as manager, traded for P Michael King, signed P Yuki Matsui, traded for SP Dylan Cease
2024 Outlook - The Padres had a very disappointing season after high hopes they could compete with the Dodgers for the division. Chemistry issues plagued this team and they never got on a hot streak until the end of the season after they dug themselves too deep a hole. They also lost Juan Soto via trade and Blake Snell via free agency. They also changed managers, out is Bob Melvin and in is Mike Shildt, who most recently managed the Cardinals. Can Shildt bring this team together and find a winning formula? The Padres made a late offseason trade and acquired Dylan Cease to join Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove in the rotation. This is a difficult team to predict as they haven’t been able to win recently but definitely have the talent to do so. This division as a whole got better and the Padres are going to have to be a fine tuned machine to have success in 2024.
Over/Under Wins Prediction - 81.5 - Over. I’m going slightly over at 82-85 wins. However, I do think they will finish fourth in the division and miss the postseason again.
San Francisco Giants
2023 - 79-83, missed postseason
Offseason - hired Bob Melvin as manager, signed OF Jung Hoo Lee, traded for SP Robbie Ray, signed OF Jorge Soler, signed 3B Matt Chapman, signed SP Blake Snell
2024 Outlook - The Giants improved their roster after missing out on the postseason in 2023. The biggest move was signing reigning NL Cy Young Blake Snell. He will join Logan Webb, who finished second in NL Cy Young voting, to give the Giants arguably the best 1-2 punch in the league. They improved the offense with the additions of Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman. Even with those added bats, scoring runs is still a concern for this team. However, I will always be a fan of teams that prioritize pitching and that’s what the Giants have done. They will be competing for the wild card spot in 2024.
Over/Under Wins Prediction - 83.5 - Over. If that pitching staff stays healthy, they are going to be hard to beat.
Colorado Rockies
2023 - 59-103, missed postseason
Offseason - nothing of note
2024 Outlook - The Rockies are not going to win a lot of games in 2024. They have some young bats that will be exciting to watch at Coors Field but there’s nothing to like on the pitching side and they are miles and miles behind the other teams in this division. I’m going to predict they will get off to their classic hot start in April but after that, it’s going to be a lot of losing.
Over/Under Wins Prediction - 60.5 - Under. Unless they overachieve by a long shot, it’s going to be another sub-60 win season in Colorado.