Dodgers Listed as Odds-On Favorites to Win the NL West in 2019
- The Los Angeles Dodgers remain NL West favorites after capturing the title last year.
- Manny Machado left the Dodgers to sign with the Padres for 10 years and $300 million.
- The Rockies lost the division by only one game last season.
How much does Manny Machado signing with the San Diego Padres mean in the NL West? Not a whole lot according to odds on the division available that show the Padres as substantial underdogs.
2019 National League West Odds
| Team | 2018 Record | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 92-71 | -225 |
| Colorado Rockies | 91-72 | +550 |
| San Diego Padres | 66-96 | +800 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 82-80 | +900 |
| San Francisco Giants | 73-89 | +1400 |
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers went to the World Series again last year and lost again. But thankfully this futures bet has nothing to do with winning anything other than a division title.
Dodgers Key Additions and Subtractions
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| AJ Pollock, OF | Manny Machado, INF |
| Russell Martin, C | Yasiel Puig, OF |
| Homer Bailey, SP | Matt Kemp, OF |
| Joe Kelly, RP | Alex Wood, SP |
Some big names are headed out including Manny Machado and Yasiel Puig, but with the addition of AJ Pollock the Dodgers are still clear favorites in the NL West.
.@ClaytonKersh22 has been named the Opening Day starter. ? pic.twitter.com/TTFI3yetCz
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 19, 2019
In addition to the moves in the offseason and the track record of success, the deep pockets of ownership are another reason to love their chances. If the Dodgers end up in any kind of race like last year where they only beat the Rockies by one game, they’ll spend dearly at the deadline. A year ago they landed Manny Machado, and it would be reasonable to expect a similar approach in 2019.
Colorado Rockies
It was a quiet offseason for the folks in Colorado, but that was to be expected.
Rockies Key Additions and Subtractions
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| Daniel Murphy, 2B | Adam Ottovino, RP |
| Carlos Gonzalez, OF | |
| DJ Lemahieu, 2B |
After a great season where they finished with 91 wins and made the playoffs, there wasn’t an expectation they’d shake things up. Losing Ottovino in the bullpen and Lemahieu in the middle of the order could prove costly when trying to keep up with Los Angeles, but they do likely present the best chance of upsetting the Dodgers.
San Diego Padres
Manny Machado to San Diego for 10 years and $300 million is the biggest off-season splash to date.
Padres Key Additions and Subtractions
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| Manny Machado, INF | Freddy Galvis, INF |
| Ian Kinsler, 2B | |
| Garrett Richards, SP |
Manny Machado has a 10-year deal worth $300 million with the #Padres, according to @TBrownYahoo.
Details ➡️ https://t.co/bETE6AoCls pic.twitter.com/HNfJUmH6oD
— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) February 19, 2019
How much does the Machado signing matter in the division? Very little. The Padres were 30 games under .500 last year, and while Machado is a very nice piece, he’s not nearly enough to change the outlook in the division.
One important note, if you disagree with the take that the Padres aren’t contenders, bet it now. After the big signing, money will come in on San Diego and the +800 price will become less attractive by the day, especially if they do remain in on Bryce Harper.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Here’s a recipe for failure: three massive names on the way out, nothing of note coming in.
Diamondbacks Key Additions and Subtractions
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| N/A | Patrick Corbin, SP |
| AJ Pollock, OF | |
| Paul Goldschmidt, 1B |
Paul Goldschmidt had been the cornerstone of the Diamondbacks for years and was part of a dynamic duo with AJ Pollock. Both are now gone. In addition to that, Patrick Corbin also left to sign for six-years and $140 million with the Nationals. These Diamondbacks provide little to no chance to win the division and don’t even provide you with the lottery-like odds they deserve. Easy decision here, stay away.
San Francisco Giants
There may not be an organization in all of baseball that has less of an understanding of where they’re going than the San Francisco Giants.
Giants Key Additions and Subtractions
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| Drew Pomeranz, RP | Hunter Pence, OF |
| Hunter Strickland, RP |
One minute the Giants may trade Madison Bumgarner, the next they’re in on the Bryce Harper sweepstakes. Whatever the final roster looks like, it won’t be deserving of a play for a futures bet.
Who Will Win the NL West?
It’s the Dodgers’ division until someone else proves capable of taking it from them. Don’t overthink this, stay away from the hype train in San Diego or any of the other pretenders and bet that another banner will be making it’s way to Chavez Ravine at season’s end.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-225)
Our 2019 MLB Divisional Previews Coverage:
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
