Baseball betting: Los Angeles Dodgers are the team to beat in the top-heavy NL West

The NL West is loaded once again. The Los Angeles Dodgers might be the favorite to win it all according to the MLB playoff odds but the San Francisco Giants are the defending division champions. Once again, the San Diego Padres are a popular pick in the preseason.

It would not be surprising to see three teams from the NL West earn spots in the postseason.

The Dodgers (+300) have the best odds to have the top record in Major League Baseball while the Padres (+1200) and Giants (+2200) are eighth and 11th. It could be another long year for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Keep on reading for more on what to look for in the NL West for the 2022 season and some Las Vegas odds to consider.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Odds to win division: -225
• Odds to win World Series: +500
• 2021 record: 106-56, 2nd NL West
• Top award candidates: Walker Buehler, 2nd NL Cy Young (+700); Mookie Betts, 4th NL MVP (+1200); Trea Turner, 4th NL MVP (+1200).

Not that the Dodgers needed much help but they added Freddie Freeman to a lineup that includes Max Muncy (36 homers in 2021), Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Will Smith, and Chris Taylor. Highly-touted Gavin Lux is also ready to roll.

The MLB lines list the Dodgers as the favorites to win the World Series and they deserve that top spot.

San Diego Padres

• Odds to win division: +275
• Odds to win World Series: +1200
• 2021 record: 79-83, 3rd NL West
• Top award candidates: Fernando Tatis Jr., 6th NL MVP (+1800); C.J. Abrams, 7th NL Rookie of the Year (+1100).

The season hasn’t started and the Padres, one of the most disappointing teams in 2021, suffered their first loss with the news that a wrist injury will sideline MVP candidate Fernando Tatis Jr. for “months.” That certainly could impact who those who bet online view this squad.

The Padres are said to be in talks with the Pirates to acquire outfielder Bryan Reynolds and it is easy to see why because the lineup looks much less fearsome without Tatis.

On the Padres’ starting rotation, a collection of pitchers in various states of readiness: https://t.co/dSnUOUPErN

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) April 1, 2022

Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer, Jake Cronenworth, Wil Myers, and Trent Grisham will lead the offense. Luke Voit was added to provide power.

Nobody predicted that Yu Darvish, Danielson Limet, and Blake Snell would finish a combined 17-21. Joe Musgrove and 23-year-old MacKenzie Gore are also available while Mike Clevinger is working his way back from injury.

San Francisco Giants

• Odds to win division: +500
• Odds to win World Series: +2000
• 2021 record: 107-55, 1st NL West
• Top award candidates: Logan Webb, 9th NL Cy Young (+1400); Joey Bart, 6th NL Rookie of the Year (+900); Camillo Doval, 11th NL Rookie of the Year (+2200).

Each year the Giants get overshadowed by division rivals but they are usually there at the end regardless of how much they are underrated in the MLB picks.

It will be a much different vibe without catcher Buster Posey but this team will be in the thick of things once again.

Logan Webb leads a group of promising pitchers and the staff will be aided by the acquisitions of Carlos Rodon and Alex Cobb. Let’s not forget that Alex Wood went 10-4

in his first season with San Francisco.

The Joey Bart era begins as he will assume the starting catching job. He will be joined by some familiar names including Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, and Mike Yastrzemski. Joc Pederson was brought in to give the lineup another power hitter.