When will it end? Is this the year that some team gets it together and takes them down? Of course, I’m referencing the back-to-back World Series champs Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve dominated the league the past two seasons. Toronto came close to dethroning them in the World Series last year, but no dice. Can another team take them down this year? Let’s see. Here’s our 2026 NL West preview.
What Happened in 2025:
Yeah…the Dodgers. They did it again. For a second straight year, the Dodgers marched right to the World Series and won another title. It came with some resistance from the Blue Jays who took them to extra innings in Game 7. The Padres made the playoffs, but they were quickly bounced and faced issues with their pitching staff and injuries. They let go of Mike Schildt and hired Craig Stammen. The San Francisco Giants traded for Rafael Devers but still disappointed in the end and missed the postseason and led to the dismissal of Bob Melvin for Tony Vitello. The Diamondbacks went off the rails at the end of the season, and this could be a make-it or break-it year for their manager. The Rockies were…the Rockies. As we expect the Dodgers to be great, we expect Colorado to be crap.
Best Players to Watch:
Dodgers – Kyle Tucker – The biggest free agent in the cycle chose the Dodgers. He gets added to the best lineup in baseball.
Giants -Rafael Devers – We didn’t get to see Devers in a full season with the Giants a year ago. Now he will have a full 162 with San Francisco and I am expecting big numbers.
Padres – Mason Miller– San Diego gave up a ton to go out and get one of the best closers in baseball last deadline and he is the high leverage pitcher they need.
Rockies -Hunter Goodman – He belted more than 30 home runs last season and was a nice surprise for the Rockies.
Diamondbacks – Nolan Arenado – This was a nice pickup for the Dbacks who traded for the Gold Glover and is looking to ride into the sunset of his career in the desert.
Biggest Additions and Subtractions:
The Dodgers did it for a fourth straight year. They continue to win the offseason. This time around it was by adding the best hitter in free agency in Kyle Tucker and the best closer in the game in Edwin Diaz. Los Angeles is once again stacked.
The biggest loss comes in San Diego where the Padres are without a top-of-the-line pitcher as Dylan Cease signed a big contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Division Winner:
I expected them to win 105 games a year ago. They won just 93 games. I am doubling down and calling for another 105-win season with a reloaded roster. Dodgers, 105 – 57