Dodgers, Padres expected to be on top
Giants feel they could be in wild card race
In a division that features two of the most talented rosters in baseball, the Giants are viewed by much of the league as an afterthought.
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler helped the organization take a major step forward last season, but the Giants’ chances of ending their four-year playoff drought and finally securing another National League West title are slim thanks to the rosters the Dodgers and Padres have assembled.
As the Giants prepare for the 2021 season, they believe internally that the return of Buster Posey coupled with a deeper rotation and more experienced bullpen will give them a legitimate chance to be a threat in the NL wildcard race. To exceed projections –which mostly peg the Giants to finish with 74-to-78 wins– San Francisco must hold its own against the top two teams in the division and take advantage of their matchups with the Diamondbacks and rebuilding Rockies.
How do the Giants stack up in the toughest division in baseball? What are the key additions and biggest losses for each NL West team? We look at how the division is shaping up in the hours leading up to Opening Day.
Dodgers
PECOTA PROJECTION >> 103-59
KEY ADDITIONS >> Trevor Bauer, Tommy Kahnle, Corey Knebel, Alex Vesia, Sheldon Neuse, Garrett Cleavinger
KEY LOSSES >> Dylan Floro, Adam Koralek, Jake McGee, Alex Wood, Kiké Hernández, Joc Pederson, Pedro Báez
OUR BREAKDOWN >> The reigning World Series champions expected to return the vast majority of their top players and enter the 2021 season as favorites to re
TUNE IN
OPENING DAY
GIANTS AT SEATTLE When: Thursday, 7 p.m. TV/Radio: NBCS-BA/680 AM