The National League West has long been dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers due to their success over the past decade, but the gap may be closing next season.
They have owned the division. Since 2013, the Dodgers have won 9 of a possible 10 National League West championships, including eight straight and three World Series appearances. The only time they didn’t finish in first place was in 2021 when they won 106 games but were outplayed by the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers are the NL West favorites, but should they be?
The Dodgers, along with the Houston Astros, have been the preseason favorites for the World Series year after year, but things have changed at the top of the odds table for the 2022 season. Los Angeles is still near the top. , but the Mets, Yankees and Astros have lower odds this season.
As for the division, they are still favorites to win, but not by much. The Dodgers sit at -130 to win the West, which is tied for the second-lowest odds for any division winner. But hot on their heels are the up-and-coming Padres, listed at +130. San Diego has one of the most talented lineups in all of the major leagues, and it should be a serious pennant threat if they can stay healthy and make the most of their pitching.
Looking at the odds on the other teams in the division, it looks like the NL West will be a two-team race. The Giants did little to bolster their roster in the offseason, and they’re +850 to win the crown, which may even be a bit generous. Las Vegas doesn’t give the other two teams much of a chance, as the Arizona Diamondbacks (+3,300) and Colorado Rockies (+5,000) are long shots.
The Padres could make a run
The smart money would be in the Padres. On paper, it looks like they have a roster that can compete with the Dodgers for talent, and their lineup could be one of the most dangerous in all of the big leagues. Los Angeles remains a serious threat, but they’ve lost some key pieces in the past two offseasons. Both Trae and Justin Turner are gone, and Cody Bellinger is also one of the deceased.
As for the Padres, they have added players like Xander Bogaerts to their already talented lineup, as he will join Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. in San Diego. The latter will serve a 21-game suspension to start the season, but should be a force in the final months if they can keep everyone injury-free.
