Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
While the Arizona Diamondbacks have ten days before Opening Day, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres open their season within hours. Not since 2002, the season after the Diamondbacks won their first and only world championship, they haven’t faced such high expectations. No one expects them to dethrone the Dodgers atop the National League Western Division, but they should earn one of the National League Wild Card spots.
The Diamondbacks shocked the baseball world when they went to the World Series. They swept the Dodgers with an injury-decimated starting rotation in the NLDS and fought a very good Philadelphia Phillies team hard. They ultimately lost to the Texas Rangers.
Corbin Carroll, the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year, should have another fantastic season. This offseason the Diamondbacks signed Joc Pederson, who will add power from the left side. Jace Peterson gives the Diamondbacks a bona fide third baseman, which will improve their defense. Christian Walker figures to have another good offensive season.
This offseason, the Diamondbacks signed Eduardo Rodríguez to a lucrative long-term deal to anchor a fantastic young starting rotation. If the starters remain healthy, they will be a potent weapon against the rest of baseball. The Diamondbacks don’t have much depth, so if they have injuries, they won’t be competitive.
Their bullpen looks weak.
The Diamondbacks don’t have the star power compared to the Dodgers. On paper, they won’t win the National League West, but baseball isn’t played on paper. They might surprise everyone.
