1 Dodgers
CONTENDERS
SCOUT'S TAKE
KEY QUESTION
They can't count on Clayton Kershaw being the Man anymore. Is Walker Buehler ready to be the ace? His arsenal is tremendous. The only worry is the jump in workload—he almost doubled his innings last year. But if he wins the Cy Young, I wouldn't be surprised.
UNDERRATED
Cody Bellinger is a 30-home run guy, but people don't appreciate how he developed into an above-average outfielder, when the Dodgers thought they could just hide him out there. I love how he adjusted after a terrible 2017 postseason. Now he's an MVP candidate.
ON THE CUSP
Their rotation is good, but their Triple A rotation has a chance to be better than a few major league staffs. Dustin May has the biggest upside, Tony Gonsolin can be a difference-maker this year: He's touching the high 90s and could log some key innings in October.
LAST LICKS
I thought with all the platooning, no way everyone was gonna be happy last year. Credit to Dave Roberts for managing that clubhouse.... They can deal some of those arms and get guys at the trade deadline. If they don't make the World Series, it'll be a disappointment.
THE PAYOFF PITCH
FOR A two-year period, 2016 and '17, Corey Seager was the best player in the National League after Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant. Seager was a good defensive shortstop who slashed .302/.370/.496 with 48 home runs. He missed the last five months of the 2018 season with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John surgery, but he's healthy and expected to be an Opening Day starter. It's a credit to the depth the Dodgers have on their roster—some of which they used to trade for Seager's replacement in '18, Manny Machado—that they lost an MVP candidate and still won the NL West for a sixth straight time. Los Angeles mostly stayed out of the free-agent market this winter, knowing one of the best players in the game was coming back. A healthy Seager returning is like signing a five-win player—except Seager, 24, will make just $4 million this year.
OVER UNDER
93.5
Corey Seager's back and their young starters are ready to contribute. Even with Clayton Kershaw limited, the Dodgers are a lock to win the NL West for a seventh straight year.
LINEUP
CF A.J. Pollock
.257/21 HR/13 SB
SS Corey Seager
.267/.348 OBP/.396 SLG
3B Justin Turner
.312/.406 OBP/.518 SLG
RF Cody Bellinger
.260/25 HR/ 76 RBI
1B Max Muncy
.263/35 HR/.582 SLG
2B Chris Taylor
.254/17 HR/9 SB
LF Joc Pederson
.248/25 HR/.522 SLG
C Austin Barnes
.205/.329 OBP/.484 SLG
BENCH
OF/IF Kiké Hernández
.256/21 HR/.470 SLG
IF David Freese
.296/.359 OBP/.471 SLG
FANTASY BREAKOUT
After logging 1371/3 innings in his rookie year, WALKER BUEHLER, unleashed, will have top 10 starter potential.
ROTATION
LH Clayton Kershaw
9 W/2.73 ERA/1.04 WHP
RH Walker Buehler
8 W/2.62 ERA/0.96 WHP
LH Hyun-Jin Ryu
7 W/1.97 ERA/1.01 WHP
LH Rich Hill
11 W/3.66 ERA/ 1.12 WHP
BULLPEN
CL Kenley Jansen
38 SV/3.01 ERA/ 10.3 K9
RH Joe Kelly
4.39 ERA/1.36 WHP/9.3 K9
LH Scott Alexander
3.68 ERA/1.27 WHP/7.6 K9
MANAGER
Dave Roberts