National League West Betting Preview: Dodgers, D-Backs Favored

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been trying for the better part of the off season to sign Manny Ramirez to a contract for the upcoming season. So far, they have been unsuccessful in doing so. Even without Ramirez, the Dodgers the favorites to win the National League West.

Los Angeles has odds of 7/5. That puts them slightly ahead of Arizona, a team that completely collapsed last season. The Diamondbacks are an 8/5 choice. In the NL West, anything can happen and that is why the odds are so closely intertwined.

San Fransisco upgraded their team by adding Randy Johnson to a pitching staff that already included Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum and steadily improving Matt Cain. They are a 7/2 pick by the odds makers.

The Colorado Rockies lost their closer, Brian Fuentes and their best hitter, Matt Holiday over the winter. The loss of those two, coupled with the recent discovery that pitcher Jeff Francis will need surgery does not make for a bright outlook. The Rockies are 6/1 to win the division.

The dark horse in the division will be the San Diego Padre4s. While they are the long shot at 18/1, they do have one of the best pitchers in the league in Jake Pe4avy. If Peavy is not traded this spring, San Diego could turn some heads.

The Dodgers season, of course, could hinge on the eventual signing of Ramirez. He is a difference maker that would make them the clear favorite to repeat. Even without Ramirez the Dodgers will have one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, and that could be enough to hold off the other teams in the division.

February 22, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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