This Major League Baseball season featured storylines galore in the National League West. But this division was once again claimed by its top National League pennant contender, which held off some stern challenges early in the season. Here, we look at the NL West futures betting odds for this season and make our pick as to who we like to earn the division title.
2023 NL West Futures Betting Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers: Weathered the Storm
The Los Angeles Dodgers trailed in the race for the NL West title for much of this season. But they fought back and have clinched the division title. The Dodgers should compete for the National League pennant with the Atlanta Braves this postseason. But the Dodgers still need to prove that their pitching is good enough to run with the top teams in the league in October.
Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants: Wild Card Chasing
Nobody expected the Arizona Diamondbacks to be any good this season, but they and the San Francisco Giants are both in the NL Wild Card race. Zac Gallen is on the short list of NL Cy Young contenders this year to lead the Diamondbacks, while the Giants have incredible heart from the top of their lineup to the bottom. If either of these teams can grab a Wild Card spot, they could be a thorn in the side of the top teams in the league.
San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies: There’s Always Next Year
The San Diego Padres were a big disappointment this year, as they are well out of the race to win the NL West or earn a Wild Card spot despite having considerable talent both on the mound and at the plate. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies have been about who they were expected to be, which is to say that they have been very bad in 2023.
2023 NL West Futures Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers
It hasn’t been easy, but the LA Dodgers managed to outlast the rest of the NL West again this season. With NL MVP candidate Mookie Betts leading them, the Dodgers had both the talent and experience to navigate a tougher division race than usual. But this team will be judged on its postseason performance again in 2023.
