This is the first of six divisional previews from Impact 89FM, stay tuned for the rest of the previews throughout the opening week of the MLB season.
The National League West Division is expected to be a three-team race between the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Arizona Diamondbacks – all of which made multiple moves in the offseason.
Impact’s Zachary Swiecicki, Zach Barnes, and Will Thiede give their take on the top-heavy NL West. They also discuss the effect of Arizona’s All-Star center fielder A.J. Pollock fracturing his right elbow the weekend before Opening Day.
MLB NL west preview (1-6)
By the end of the 2015 MLB season, the NL West was not close. The Dodgers ran away with the division, leaving the Giants at a distant second place (eight games back)…and no where close to a Wild Card spot (six games behind the Mets).
| Team |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
92 |
70 |
0.568 |
— |
| San Francisco Giants |
84 |
78 |
0.519 |
8.0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks |
79 |
83 |
0.488 |
13.0 |
| San Diego Padres |
74 |
88 |
0.457 |
18.0 |
| Colorado Rockies |
68 |
94 |
0.420 |
24.0 |
This season is a different story. The three teams at the top will all be competing for a chance at the playoffs.
Our 2016 NL West Projected Standings:
*National League Lineups will be not include the pitcher’s spot*
1. San Francisco Giants
Rotation
| 1 |
Madison Bumgarner |
| 2 |
Johnny Cueto |
| 3 |
Jeff Samardzija |
| 4 |
Jake Peavy |
| 5 |
Matt Cain |
Opening Day Lineup
| CF |
Denard Span |
| 2B |
Joe Panik |
| C |
Buster Posey |
| RF |
Hunter Pence |
| 1B |
Brandon Belt |
| 3B |
Matt Duffy |
| SS |
Brandon Crawford |
| LF |
Angel Pagan |
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Rotation
| 1 |
Clayton Kershaw |
| 2 |
Scott Kazmir |
| 3 |
Kenta Maeda |
| 4 |
Alex Wood |
| 5 |
Ross Stripling |
Opening Day Lineup
| 2B |
Chase Utley |
| SS |
Corey Seager |
| 3B |
Jacob Turner |
| 1B |
Adrian Gonzalez |
| RF |
Yasiel Puig |
| LF |
Carl Crawford |
| CF |
Joc Pederson |
| C |
A.J. Ellis |
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
Rotation
| 1 |
Zack Greinke |
| 2 |
Shelby Miller |
| 3 |
Patrick Corbin |
| 4 |
Rubby De La Rosa |
| 5 |
Robbie Ray |
Opening Day Lineup
| 2B |
Jean Segura |
| CF |
Chris Owings |
| 1B |
Paul Goldschmidt |
| C |
Welington Castillo |
| RF |
David Peralta |
| LF |
Yasmany Tomas |
| 3B |
Jake Lamb |
| SS |
Nick Ahmed |
4. Colorado Rockies
Rotation
| 1 |
Jorge De La Rosa |
| 2 |
Chad Bettis |
| 3 |
Tyler Chatwood |
| 4 |
Jordan Lyles |
| 5 |
Christian Bergman |
Opening Day Lineup
| CF |
Charlie Blackmon |
| SS |
Trevor Story |
| RF |
Carlos Gonzalez |
| 3B |
Nolan Arenado |
| LF |
Gerardo Parra |
| 1B |
Mark Reynolds |
| C |
Nick Hundley |
| 2B |
DJ LeMahieu |
5. San Diego Padres
Rotation
| 1 |
Tyson Ross |
| 2 |
James Shields |
| 3 |
Andrew Cashner |
| 4 |
Drew Pomeranz |
| 5 |
Colin Rea |
Opening Day Lineup
| CF |
Jon Jay |
| C |
Derek Norris |
| RF |
Matt Kemp |
| 1B |
Wil Myers |
| SS |
Alexei Ramirez |
| 3B |
Yangervis Solarte |
| LF |
Melvin Upton Jr. |
| 2B |
Cory Spangenberg |
