NL West: Sizing Up the Offense, Starting Pitching and Bullpen for Each Team

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May 16, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) attends batting practice before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Thoughts and Reactions

So what do all these numbers mean?

What it tells me is that the Dodgers are clearly the best team in the NL West, and that the Arizona Diamondbacks are right on their heels.

It also tells me that the Rockies are due for a little regression. Or if you’re looking at it from the Rockies point of view, they haven’t even started playing their best baseball yet.

I think the San Francisco Giants have some major issues offensively. A quarter into the season and they’er still last in the NL in runs scored and home runs.

The Giants starting pitching and bullpen has been solid, but not good enough to withstand the lack of run support from the offense. If you’re not going to hit well enough, then you’re pitching is going to need to be lights out.

I think the Padres will most certainly be the worst team in the NL West all year. But these numbers show me that they’re a scrappy bunch that is improving on the fly. They are going to cause some NL West teams trouble down the stretch.

As mentioned in the beginning, I think the NL West is the best division in the National League right now. There will be at least two teams in the playoffs from this division.

That’s going to make the San Francisco Giants path to the playoffs even harder. But this will be a fun division race to watch all summer regardless.

Next: San Francisco Giants Minor League Report: How are the top 10 prospects faring?

I look forward to revisiting these numbers after the next 40 games to see how teams have fallen or improved.

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