The 2017 NL West season betting preview is not one of much optimism. Outside of the Dodgers and the Giants, every team in the division has issues that can’t be fixed in one offseason. The Rockies have a bullpen that needs to be addressed, with the worst ERA in the MLB at 5.13 and still don’t haven’t added a real first baseman. Fans can dream about a Matt Holliday reunion, but the chances of that happening are slim. Arizona had one of the worst defenses in the past 50 years in 2016. A.J. Pollock's injury was big, but it was only partially the problem. Jake Lamb, Robby Ray, and Yasmany Tomas are putrid defenders and need to be either moved around or replaced if the D’Backs hope to turn things around quickly. San Diego is just bad. The conclusion at MLB Preview is that the front office is bad, players are bad, and management is bad.
Los Angeles Dodgers Odds to Win 2017 World Series
This is the highest payroll in the league, but as has been shown in recent years, that is no longer the key to success. The Dodgers team preview also has them with the consensus third best odds online at the major sportsbooks, although the lines vary at each. Bovada has them with +1,000, BetOnline gives them the best odds at +900 and 5Dimes the worst of the set at +1,200. Teams like the Cubs, Indians and the Kansas City Royals have had great success without heavy spending by cultivating the talent in their farm system. The Dodgers are in quite a bind with some of their own players set to become free agents. L.A. will have to decide if they will retain the services of Chase Utley, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, and lefty Rich Hill. Yasiel Puig is another name that has been linked to being moved sometime during winter talks. The Dodgers must be careful to control spending without losing too much talent.
San Francisco Giants World Series Chances
It’s hard to believe that a unit that was once a strength for this team has now become its biggest problem. The last straw was when the bullpen couldn’t survive with a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the NLDS. They cycled through five relievers and still came up short. San Francisco’s betting preview gives them +1,400 odds on Bovada and BetOnline, good for sixth and seventh best, respectively. However, if the team can’t come away with one of the top pitchers in free agency (Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, or Mark Melancon), they could find themselves in a similar position in 2017.
Colorado Rockies 2017 World Series Odds
To have a weak lineup is one thing, to have the worst ERA in the majors is a completely separate issue. 5.13 ERA is almost worse than what someone would see for a collegiate team. It should never be in the majors. 5Dimes sees it as a similar problem, giving the team +10,000 odds to win the 2017 World Series. Mark Melancon, Aroldis Chapman, and Kenley Jansen would be great additions or they could call up their top pitching prospect, Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman, a 23-year-old pitcher, has been steadily improving since having Tommy John surgery. Although he didn’t fare well in his first call-up (0-4 with a 4.88 ERA in six starts), Hoffman could get some time if Colorado continues to give up late runs.
Betting Odds For the Arizona Diamondbacks
Was there a worse defensive team in the league last year than the Diamondbacks? Probably not. But, the D’Backs 2017 season preview should look more promising with the return of center fielder A.J. Polluck. Polluck was sorely missed on both sides of the ball after a fractured elbow suffered during spring training limited him to 12 games in the 2016 campaign. Their pitching rotation behind Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller is solid, but look for the team to make a run at names like Justin Turner and Luis Valbuena during free agency.
San Diego Padres Betting Odds For 2017 Season
The Padres are young, but they are really bad too. Bovada, BetOnline, and 5Dimes have them listed with the worst 2017 World Series odds in the league (+10,000, +15,000, and +12,500, respectively). The biggest needs are at shortstop and in the entire rotation. Luis Sardinas will be the probable opening day starter at short, but he is by no means a presence there. The Padres farm system is littered with potential, including Panama-native Javier Guerra, but Sardinas is only one with significant time in the bigs. As far as pitching is concerned, the team is expected to target anyone who they can get their hands on. At the very minimum, they should pursue two MLB-caliber pitchers. Until then, San Diego is stuck in bottom-feeder purgatory.