National League West Rotations Ranked for the 2024 MLB Season
Grant White
Host · Writer
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
No one could have possibly been surprised by this. Priced as -600 chalk to win the NL West and +320 to win it all, the Los Angeles Dodgers are widely expected to be the best team in the majors this season. Surely, their starting pitching will help them live up to those expectations.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has garnered most of the attention in Spring Training, and rightfully so. The Japanese National has won the NPB's Triple Crown in three consecutive seasons, using his devastating four-pitch arsenal to keep batters guessing. But we can't overlook Tyler Glasnow as a potential ace. The hard-throwing righty has been a staple of the Tampa Bay Rays rotation the past few seasons and will make his presence felt in LA. Highly regarded Bobby Miller is poised to build off last year's results, with Gavin Stone and James Paxton rounding out the starting five.
The Dodgers' current advantage on the mound is without even considering Clayton Kershaw or Dustin May. Both of whom are expected to return at some point this season. Whoever they're sending to the mound, the Dodgers probably have the advantage.
National League West Odds: Dodgers -600
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5. Colorado Rockies
There's a reason the Colorado Rockies are priced as prohibitive +20000 longshots to win the NL West. Look no further than their underwhelming starting rotation as a reason for their anticipated struggles.
The Rockies, led by Kyle Freeland, lack any quality arm in their starting rotation. Freeland finished last season with a 5.03 ERA and 5.30 FIP, underscoring his inability to serve as the team's ace. Cal Quantrill was brought in as a potential 1B option behind Freeland, but his 5.24 ERA from last season doesn't inspire much confidence. Those concerns are even more amplified when we consider his new home environment.
The Rockies are a classic example of why relegation should be a factor in American professional sports. Instead, we'll be left betting overs as the Rockies' starting rotation continues to let them down.
National League West Odds: Rockies +20000
4. San Francisco Giants
It's been an offseason of change for the San Francisco Giants. San Fran moved on from longtime Manager Gabe Kapler at the end of last season, creating a shift in the franchise's philosophies. As a result, the team moved on from four of their top six innings eaters from 2023, leaving the Giants in desperate need of pitching depth.
Granted, Logan Webb has emerged as a perennial Cy Young candidate, and that's once again the case in 2024. The 27-year-old led the bigs in innings pitched, strikeouts per win, and walks per nine innings last year. Consequently, he's priced with the third-best odds to claim this season's Cy Young.
Jordan Hicks projects as the second arm in the rotation while Kyle Harrison is getting thrown into the deep end. The 22-year-old has just seven Major League starts under his belt, but he'll be asked to bear a significant workload to keep the Giants afloat. Alex Cobb has recovered sufficiently from hip surgery, but the aging journeyman has had deteriorating metrics for years.
Things might not be as bad as they appear for the Giants, but there are three staffs in better shape than they are to start the campaign.
National League West Odds: Giants +1300
3. San Diego Padres
The top three pitchers in the San Diego Padres rotation stack up against the best the division offers. However, like their Northern California counterparts, depth will limit their effectiveness throughout the season.
Anchored by Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, and the recently acquired Michael King, the Padres could surprise more than a few opponents with their starting pitching. Jhony Brito and his 4.74 FIP was another piece of the Juan Soto deal, and he's well suited for the back end of the rotation. As is knuckleballer Matt Waldron and his 5.46 FIP.
The Padres head into 2024 with a new look. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily translate to improved on-field success. If Brito and Waldron exceed expectations, maybe this is the year it all comes together in San Diego. Maybe.
National League West Odds: Padres +1600
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
The reigning National League Champions are running it back with four of the same five pitchers from last year's championship-winning squad. That could be the x-factor for the Arizona Diamondbacks' success in 2024.
Merrill Kelly is a bit of an enigma at the top of the rotation. Kelly didn't make his MLB debut until his age 30 season, refining his touch in the KBO from 2015-2018. However, over the past two seasons, he's pitched 378.0 innings with 364 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA. Zac Gallen remains the staff ace, with Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, and newly acquainted Eduardo Rodriguez left to round out the rotation.
The Diamondbacks set a high standard last year. Maintaining that form with a bigger target on their backs becomes the new challenge ahead of this season. Nevertheless, the outlook is promising for Gallen and company.
National League West Odds: Diamondbacks +1100
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
No one could have possibly been surprised by this. Priced as -600 chalk to win the NL West and +320 to win it all, the Los Angeles Dodgers are widely expected to be the best team in the majors this season. Surely, their starting pitching will help them live up to those expectations.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has garnered most of the attention in Spring Training, and rightfully so. The Japanese National has won the NPB's Triple Crown in three consecutive seasons, using his devastating four-pitch arsenal to keep batters guessing. But we can't overlook Tyler Glasnow as a potential ace. The hard-throwing righty has been a staple of the Tampa Bay Rays rotation the past few seasons and will make his presence felt in LA. Highly regarded Bobby Miller is poised to build off last year's results, with Gavin Stone and James Paxton rounding out the starting five.
The Dodgers' current advantage on the mound is without even considering Clayton Kershaw or Dustin May. Both of whom are expected to return at some point this season. Whoever they're sending to the mound, the Dodgers probably have the advantage.
National League West Odds: Dodgers -600
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
5. Colorado Rockies
There's a reason the Colorado Rockies are priced as prohibitive +20000 longshots to win the NL West. Look no further than their underwhelming starting rotation as a reason for their anticipated struggles.
The Rockies, led by Kyle Freeland, lack any quality arm in their starting rotation. Freeland finished last season with a 5.03 ERA and 5.30 FIP, underscoring his inability to serve as the team's ace. Cal Quantrill was brought in as a potential 1B option behind Freeland, but his 5.24 ERA from last season doesn't inspire much confidence. Those concerns are even more amplified when we consider his new home environment.
The Rockies are a classic example of why relegation should be a factor in American professional sports. Instead, we'll be left betting overs as the Rockies' starting rotation continues to let them down.
National League West Odds: Rockies +20000
