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    NL West, 2.0: Expect the Giants to be there again

    The Dodgers and Giants are the class of the NL West, while the Padres and Rockies are both likely competing for the worst record in baseball. Dayn Perry sizes up the latest SportsLine forecast.
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    Let's check back in on what the SportsLine Projection Model says about the National League West, with an eye toward how things have changed since last time.

    After all, spring training play is in full swing, and, as such, injuries are happening, and position battles are taking shape. Time for a reset ...

    Los Angeles Dodgers (94.9-67.1):  Since last time around, the Dodgers have gained exactly one-tenth of a win, which implies not much has been happening.

    SportsLine's NL West standings
     WinsDiv%Playoff%NLWS
    Dodgers94.964.7%88.0%20.7%10.6%
    Giants91.233.2%71.0%13.8%6.9%
    D-Backs79.31.9%8.8%1.0%0.4%
    Padres72.30.2%1.0%0.1%0.1%
    Rockies65.10.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%

    On the contrary, the rotation keeps taking hits. We already knew Brett Anderson will miss at least half the season, and now there's more.

    Scott Kazmir is showing steep velocity decline, and Hyun Jin Ryu (shoulder) won't be able to rejoin the rotation before June.

    Depth piece Frankie Montas is also laid up.

    This is still a deep roster, but it's increasingly a not-so-deep rotation. Avoiding injuries over the remainder of spring training will be key for L.A.

    San Francisco Giants (91.2-70.8):  Likewise, the Giants' outlook has barely budged over the last two weeks, per SportsLine.

    The concern right now for the Giants is injuries in the outfield. Denard Span has dealt with shoulder issues, and Gregor Blanco has been limited by back tightness. Angel Pagan, now 34, has averaged 100 games per season over the last three years.

    Considering the next outfielder in line is probably Kyle Blanks, this situation bears monitoring.

    All that said, the revamped rotation plus the core of Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Brandon Crawford puts the Giants in an enviable spot.

    As such, SportsLine presently gives them a 71 percent chance of making the postseason.

    Arizona Diamondbacks (79.3-82.7):  The Diamondbacks pick up almost a full win since our last survey of the NL West.

    Yet for all of their winter spending (in dollars and prospects) they still project as roughly the same team they were in 2015.

    Like the Giants, Arizona has injury woes in the outfield. Yasmany Tomas should soon return to Cactus League action, but he's been dealing with a knee injury.

    A.J Pollock -- the team's best player not named "Goldschmidt" or "Greinke" -- is still sidelined with a sore elbow.

    The D-Backs don't have much depth, so they'll need to be uncommonly healthy in order to contend.

    San Diego Padres (72.3-89.7):  The Padres hold steady according to SportsLine.

    According to reports, the Rangers may have interest in trading for catcher Derek Norris, and since the Padres seem to be tacking toward a "soft" rebuild, such a deal certainly seems plausible.

    That could set the scene for in-season trades of veterans as we move toward the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.

    Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Alexei Ramirez, and perhaps James Shields seem like possible trade targets.

    Assume a diminished roster for much of the second half and playing the under on Westgate's over/under of 73 wins for the Padres seems sound.

    Colorado Rockies (65.1-96.9):  The Rockies will be in "contention" for the top overall draft pick in 2017, and that's especially the case if they wind up trading Carlos Gonzalez at some point.

    Would rotation stalwart Jorge De La Rosa, who's been effective thus far in spring training, have value on the trade market? Starting pitchers always command a price when they're involved in in-season trades.

    Dayn Perry
    Dayn Perry

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