Few teams can lose Trea Turner, Tyler Anderson, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Andrew Heaney, Chris Martin, etc., and remain a World Series contender. But that speaks to how much baseball betting odds talent is on the LA Dodgers roster. However, they will be relying more heavily on young players this year. And the trio of Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Noah Syndergaard in the starting rotation is unproven. Meanwhile, gamblers ponder if someone from the prospect MLB-ready group is ready. Miguel Vargas, James Outman, Michael Busch, Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, and Michael Grove could emerge.
2023 National League West Division
| Date and Time: | Season Opens March 30, 2023 |
|---|
National League West Division Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -110 |
| San Diego Padres | +120 |
| San Francisco Giants | +950 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +4500 |
| Colorado Rockies | +18000 |
LA Dodgers are Again the Public Choice
Certainly, Trea Turner is a superstar. But that is not all for LA Dodgers. Starting with another good hitter and two very good left-handers. Also, there is a former MVP who’s still an elite defender. And a couple of solid relief pitchers in there.
Additionally, the players the Dodgers have added this winter are good. But just good. Miguel Rojas will provide good defense at shortstop. At the same time, Clayton Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard will eat innings. JD Martinez and David Peralta are at least useful as platoon hitters. And Shelby Miller and Alex Reyes have upside in relief roles.
Nonetheless, this is not what Dodgers fans must have expected after a 111-win season. And with so much money coming off the team’s books. It seems like the luxury tax drove the decision-making this winter. Instead of a desire to keep winning games at historic online wagering rates.
Padres Pose Top Threat to LA and Potentially Better Value
With the additions of Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, the Padres are rich on the mound. In fact, they could potentially go with a six-man rotation to start the year. Consider that Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Nick Martinez are also in the rotation mix.
San Diego must sort out who starts in right field for the first 20 games of the season. In comparison, Fernando Tatis Jr. finishes his PED suspension. But it’s easy to think big. Especially with a lineup of Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, and Jake Cronenworth when available.
There are a lot of questions about how the Padres are going to line up defensively in 2023. The back end of their rotation is unproven. And did they need to extend Darvish through his age-42 season in 2028? These, however, are more questions than complaints. The Bogaerts deal alone makes the Padres one of the big winners of the winter. To show, Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr. have the potential to be a truly dynamite offensive foursome. To illuminate, they would have combined for 122 home runs as teammates in 2021.
Also, Matt Carpenter and Nelson Cruz have the potential to be high-impact hitters in 2023. At the same time, Robert Suarez showed his relief ace bona fides with a scoreless September 2022. Overall, Padres GM AJ Preller has done a “best GM” performance yet again.
NL West Division Championship SBG Free Picks
The LA Dodgers have been one of the worst values on the MLB odds board. Despite being the dominant team in the NL West. San Diego is the better value.
NL West Division Championship SBG Best Bet: Los Angeles Dodgers.