Dodgers aim to repeat in competitive NL West

The National League West is gearing up for an exciting 2025 MLB season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to defend their championship title. This division is considered one of the strongest, and it’s possible that three teams could make the playoffs. The Dodgers have a powerful lineup, featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Their pitching rotation includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, but Ohtani will start the season recovering from surgery. A big question for the Dodgers is whether they can win back-to-back World Series titles, a feat not achieved in over two decades. The Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to make a playoff return after narrowly missing out last season. They signed ace pitcher Corbin Burnes to strengthen their rotation alongside Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Fans are hopeful that this improved pitching staff can help them secure a wild-card spot in the competitive National League. The San Diego Padres face uncertainty this season. After ownership changes, they have been cutting costs, which raises concerns about their overall competitiveness. Key players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado need to perform well to keep the team in contention, but rumors of trades involving star pitchers could undermine their efforts. The San Francisco Giants are hoping their rotation will perform better than last year, when they struggled with pitching. They signed veteran Justin Verlander, but his recent injuries leave questions about his effectiveness. The Giants need stronger performances from their rotation and hitting to compete in this tough division. Lastly, the Colorado Rockies are aiming to avoid a third consecutive season with 100 losses. They have a rotation that could improve if their pitchers stay healthy, but their batting lineup has struggled to score runs. This division looks set to challenge the Rockies as they try to finish better than last place.