With Opening Day coming up this week, I’ve decided to take a deep dive into each division and each teams’ x-factors.
We will start with the National League West
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs are a team that may benefit from this being a shortened season if they start fast. They aren’t packed with stars but they do have talent. They swung big in Free Agency when they signed star pitcher Madison Bumgardner this offseason to a 5 year $85 millon contract.
Arizona doesn’t have much quality pitching help behind Bumgardner, Hector Rendon and Archie Bradley out of the bullpen. On the flipside their lineup is quietly potent. Mainly third baseman Eduardo Escobar who hit for a .269 batting average with 35 homers.
X Factor – Robbie Ray: If the Diamondbacks can have a reliable second arm in the rotation they may sneak up on some teams
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies ended the season 4th in the NL West last season and they may be on their way to the same sort of finish. Not because of talent, with them having the best third baseman in baseball. The reasoning is one of their better bats sitting out and another three waiting on negative COVID tests.
Rockies Outfielder Ian Desmond decided to Opt out of the 2020 season which will potentially give Matt Kemp an opportunity for more playing time. Also Charlie Blackman, the all-star right fielder, is one of three players to test positive for COVID-19.
X Factor – Raimel Tapia: With Ian Desmond sitting out this year, that leaves Tapia as the projected starting left fielder. Tapia, 26, will need to up his OBP this season if he plans on being a table setter in this Colorado lineup. He has the potential to be a major catalyst.
San Fransisco Giants
With Buster Posey opting out of this season and Madison Bumgardner down in the desert, the Giants have lost their two mainstays from the good ole days.
To make things worse, the three best bats in the lineup are all in question to be available for opening day. Evan Longoria is the most hopeful of the three. Unless the Giants’ bats can find the fountain of youth, they will be rebuilding next off season.
X Factor – Kevin Gausman: If Gausman can find his 2018 form when he was traded to the Braves he could be a big piece to this Giants rotation who would undoubtedly be the best part of the roster.
San Diego Padres
San Diego has the bats to hit their way to the playoffs. With Manny Machado, emerging star Fernando Tatis Jr and vet Eric Hosmer, the Padres will never be out of a game. The bullpen has some real talent coming in with Emilio Pagan, Drew Pomeranz and Kirby Yates.
The starting rotation could be sneaky good with a 4.68 ERA as a whole from last season. If they can keep the scores under five runs, The Padres will have a reasonable shot at keeping up with the LA Dodgers.
X Factor – Jurickson Profar: Profar is coming over from the Oakland Athletics to be the everyday second baseman for the Padres. They will need him to be at least a threat in the lineup like he was in 2018 when he hit .254 with 20 homers.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been the class of the NL West for years now. I don’t see that changing in this 2020 season. They are arguably the best team in the NL.
Their rotation is well balanced, strong bullpen and potent lineup. They have power and consistency throughout their lineup. LA didn’t rest on their laurels this offseason. They went out and added 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts to an outfield that already housed 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
X Factor – Julio Urias: Urias was suspended last season for 20 games. He spent a lot of time in the bullpen for LA. If he can continue his upward trajectory as a starter and replace the production left behind from Hyun-Jin Ryu, he can be a strong third rotation anchor.
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