Dodgers News: Writer Predicts LA Cruises to NL West Title This Year

Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes were better at identifying the Dodgers' needs than other GMs in the division.

An MLB insider thinks the Dodgers will win another division title handily because Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes identified the Dodgers’ needs better than the other GMs in the division.

Brandon Scott of Bleacher Report made some predictions for the rest of the MLB season, and one of them included the Dodgers cruising to another NL West title.

Yes, the Dodgers didn’t make a splashy trade and obtain a big-name starter or a closer. They tried, but they couldn’t. They thought they traded for Eduardo Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers, but the 30-year-old lefty invoked his no-trade clause.

The Dodgers acquired three pitchers, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, and Ryan Yarbrough. Tuesday, Lynn hurled 7 innings. Kelly bolsters a young Dodger bullpen when he is throwing the best stuff of his major league career. Yarbrough can either start or relieve, whichever the Dodgers need at the moment.

This upcoming week the Dodgers are getting Clayton Kershaw back. When he injured his shoulder, he was the best starter in the National League. Soon, Walker Buehler will go out on a rehab assignment with a target date of September 1st, and if he can return from Tommy John surgery, he will help the rotation. Julio Urías should improve.

Although the Diamondbacks needed starting pitching, they acquired none. Tommy Pham is a decent right-handed-hitting outfielder, but he can’t pitch. The Diamondbacks needed pitching to help their run prevention, and they didn’t acquire anything to help with run prevention. Here's a part of what Scott had to say:

"D-backs general manager Mike Hazen

said

he explored the starting pitcher market but decided against parting with young talent to get it done. Their

pitching

, ranking in the bottom third in most relevant statistical categories, is simply not good enough to threaten a juggernaut like the Dodgers."

(Via Bleacher Report)

The Giants acquired an aging A.J. Pollock and Mark Mathias to help to score runs. Even with these players, their offensive production can’t keep up with the Dodgers. The Dodgers acquired Kiké Hernàndez and Amed Rosario to help them beat left-handed pitching.