With Opening Day simply across the nook, the offseason is kind of full for MLB’s 30 golf equipment and groups. Till the playoffs start, groups might be targeted on a smaller objective: profitable their division. Within the run-up to the beginning of the season, we might be conducting a collection of polls to gauge who MLBTR readers imagine is the favourite in every division. The Blue Jays got here out on high within the AL East, and the Tigers did the identical in our ballot on the AL Central. Yesterday, MLBTR readers overwhelmingly voted (66%) to foretell the Mariners would win the AL West. At the moment, we’ll be transferring on to the Nationwide League, beginning with the NL West. All groups are listed so as of their 2025 common season report:
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)
The Dodgers could haven’t even certified for a playoff bye final 12 months, however their dominant efficiency throughout the postseason quelled any doubt concerning the membership being the category of the Nationwide League. Los Angeles didn’t relaxation on its laurels this offseason, including two extra superstars: outfielder Kyle Tucker and nearer Edwin Diaz. That duo ranges up a roster that already sports activities Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Mookie Betts amongst many different high-end gamers. As has grow to be the norm, the Dodgers enter 2026 because the overwhelming favourite to win the division, though their growing old and injury-prone core will certainly begin displaying cracks in some unspecified time in the future. Will this 12 months be that 12 months?
San Diego Padres (90-72)
On paper, the Padres may look to some as in the event that they’re extra prone to miss the playoffs totally than overtake the Dodgers within the NL West. The silver residing for San Diego, then, is that this was additionally true headed into the 2025 season. Regardless of that narrative, the Padres managed to spend a lot of the summer season in a digital tie with Los Angeles, and so they had been in sole possession of first place as late as August 23. This 12 months, they’ll look to defy the percentages as soon as once more with a patchwork rotation that gives little certainty outdoors of Nick Pivetta and a lineup that wasn’t considerably improved over the offseason. The most important additions to San Diego relative to final 12 months, in all chance, might be full seasons from star nearer Mason Miller and veteran outfielder Ramon Laureano.
San Francisco Giants (81-81)
After a splashy commerce for Rafael Devers final June, the Giants ended up promoting finally 12 months’s commerce deadline. Their efforts to get again within the playoff hunt for 2026 this winter had been extra complementary than impactful. Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser be a part of a rotation that misplaced Justin Verlander. The lineup added a glove-first outfielder in Harrison Bader and a bat-first infielder in Luis Arraez. Nonetheless, the crew appears strong on paper. These additions depart the San Francisco offense with out many apparent holes, and the rotation sports activities one of many recreation’s greatest starters in Logan Webb plus a former Cy Younger winner in Robbie Ray. Maybe the most important query going through the Giants this 12 months is within the bullpen. San Francisco traded Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval final July and misplaced Randy Rodriguez to Tommy John surgical procedure in September. None have been changed. That would depart the membership bleeding runs within the late innings with out large steps ahead from gamers like Erik Miller and Jose Butto.
Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82)
Nearly every little thing that might go flawed on the pitching aspect did so for the Diamondbacks final 12 months. Zac Gallen had the worst season of his profession. Corbin Burnes, Justin Martinez, and A.J. Puk all underwent elbow surgical procedure. Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez had seasons to overlook. Their crew is weaker on paper headed into 2026 than it was in 2025, as their large offseason additions had been reunions with Gallen and Merrill Kelly, plus additions on the infield corners (Carlos Santana and Nolan Arenado) gained’t match the offensive output of these positions’ earlier occupants (Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez). Even so, Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll are professional superstars. Geraldo Perdomo may be one as properly. If the crew’s veteran pitchers can flip issues round, maybe the Diamondbacks might trip their sturdy offensive nucleus again into the postseason.
Colorado Rockies (43-119)
Following a 119-loss season in 2025, Colorado made some small strikes underneath new entrance workplace boss Paul DePodesta however nothing that would actually transfer the needle. Jake McCarthy, Edouard Julien, Willi Castro, Michael Lorenzen, and Jose Quintana have actually all had their justifiable share of success prior to now, however every profiles as a complementary participant at the perfect of instances. Maybe these strikes understanding plus steps ahead from key items like Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar might assist the Rockies keep away from one other 100-loss season, however a division title or Wild Card berth are each pipe desires.
Who do MLBTR readers assume will win the NL West? Have your say within the ballot:
