With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the National League West and the Arizona Diamondbacks:
Arizona Diamondbacks
2018 record: 82-80, 3rd in NL West
Projected Lineup:
CF Ketel Marte
3B Eduardo Escobar
LF David Peralta
1B Jake Lamb
RF Adam Jones
2B Wilmer Flores
SS Nick Ahmed
C Alex Avila
Pitcher
Starting Rotation:
RH Zack Greinke
LH Robbie Ray
RH Zack Godley
RH Luke Weaver
LH Merrill Kelly
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Archie Bradley
RH Greg Holland
Key Bench Pieces:
OF Jarrod Dyson
IB Christian Walker
C Carson Kelly
OF Steven Souza Jr.
The Diamondbacks traded away their one true star in 1B Paul Goldschmidt this offseason, so it’s difficult for me to say that they will repeat their 3rd place finish from 2018. They do have a few bright spots in guys like David Peralta, Ketel Marte and Jake Lamb. Peralta actually lead the D’backs in average with .293 just ahead of Goldschmidt’s .290 and was second behind Goldie’s .389 OBP with .352. However, the key to partial success for Arizona this season lies with Lamb, who played in just 56 games last year hitting .222 with 6 home runs due to a shoulder injury. Lamb was an All Star in 2017, hitting .248 with an OBP of .357, 20 home runs and 105 RBIs in 149 games. If he can return to similar production coming off this injury, he could give Arizona fans something to cheer about.
Arizona also added 5x All Star OF Adam Jones to a one-year deal on March 10th. Jones hit a respectable .281 with 15 home runs in 2018, but his play has begun his decline as he enters his age 34 season. His glove, as well, has begun to decline as well with a -18 defensive runs saved last year. It’s no doubt that Jones is no longer a CF, but he can be a strong veteran presence in that lineup. If he has a strong first half, I expect him to be traded at the deadline, but that’s a big if.
With the loss of Patrick Corbin, Arizona will rely heavily on Zack Greinke to anchor the starting rotation with the help of Ray, Godley and Weaver. The three combined pitched to a 4.54 ERA and 4.19 FIP (Weaver’s stats come from his 2018 with the Cardinals, who the D’Backs acquired in the Goldschmidt deal).
Archie Bradley and Greg Holland will be at the back end of that bullpen with the expectations of them being the 8th and 9th inning guys. Holland has had success there at the end of games. In his 6 years in Kansas City and one year in Colorado, Holland appeared in 370 games with 186 saves. 2018 was a down year for him, splitting his time between St. Louis and Washington. His 2018 ERA was 4.66 with a 1.619 WHIP in 56 games.
With how good the Dodgers and Rockies were and will be along with the upgrades that were made in San Diego, I don’t see Arizona repeating a 3rd place finish, but rather dropping down in the standings.
2019 prediction: 4th place in NL West
