How the public is betting the NL West during Spring Training

There better not be any East Coast bias in baseball this year because it’s possible that the two best teams play in Southern California. The Dodgers and Padres appear fated to turn the NL West into a two-team slobberknocker. But the Diamondbacks, Giants and Rockies will have something to say about that. Let’s discuss each NL West team and how they are being viewed by those betting on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Los Angeles Dodgers (-250)

The Dodgers are favorites, understandably, in this division. They account for 72% of the handle and 68% of the bets. The reigning World Series champions found a way to get better this winter as they signed 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer to a multi-year deal. Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler join Bauer in what is baseball’s deepest and most talented starting rotation. The offense, which scored the most runs of any team in 2020, will be carried by former MVPs Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger.

San Diego Padres (+200)

San Diego is the clear second-place team in the minds of the oddsmakers. They have received 23% of the handle and 29% of the bets. No franchise made a greater effort to upgrade its roster this offseason than the Padres. They traded for 2018 AL Cy Young recipient Blake Snell and 2020 NL Cy Young candidate Yu Darvish. Joe Musgrove was another significant add to that rotation. Those arms will be supported by a strong lineup that includes an immensely talented left side of the infield: shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado.

San Francisco Giants (+4000)

The drop from the Padres to the third-place team in the NL West, whomever it is, will be steep. The Giants account for 1% of the bets and less than 1% of the handle. They finished a game below .500 last season, surpassing many preseason expectations. For their 2021 success, Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano will have to pick up where they left off last season offensively. Catcher Buster Posey may also have one good year left in him, but 2018 first-round pick Joey Bart’s time behind the plate is coming. Kevin Gausman’s first year in San Fran was one of the best of his career. He returns to head a rotation filled with reclamation projects such as Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani.

Colorado Rockies (+5000)

The Rockies have taken on 4% of the handle and 2% of the bets. The top story of Colorado’s offseason was shipping third baseman Nolan Arenado, the face of the franchise, to the St. Louis Cardinals in a cost-cutting measure. That title now belongs to star shortstop Trevor Story. Starting pitcher German Marquez had a very productive 2020 season and will have to be a workhorse at the top of a rather thin rotation.

Arizona Diamondbacks (+5000)

Bettors are basically ignoring the D-Backs. They have received less than 1% of the handle and the bets. Their lineup does have some talent with Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and David Peralta at the top. But losing outfielder Kole Calhoun to a torn meniscus this week will definitely hurt the offense. Zac Gallen received Cy Young votes last year, but there’s not a lot behind the 25-year-old. Madison Bumgarner is looking to rebound after he posted a 6.48 ERA in 2020, the first year of a five-year contract.

Here’s a look at the betting splits as they sit as we kick off Spring Training on March 1st for the 2021 MLB season.

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