There are four teams in the NL West presently with records above.500. The Padres, Dodgers, Giants and Diamondbacks. All those teams playing at a .600 clip or better. No other division has more than two. The NL Central has just two teams over .500, the Cardinals and Cubs. The Reds are sitting right at .500. The NL West was the most competitive division last season, and despite the fact that the Dodgers have won every division title save one since 2013, any team in the division, except Colorado, can beat any team on any given day. The surprise team in the bunch is the Giants.
One of the reasons for their early success is their pitching, which has been stellar because of an improved bullpen and the resurgence of Robbie Ray. Their team ERA is lower than the Dodgers, the return of a true lead-off hitter, J.H. Lee, who has come out of the chute blazing hot. He is presently hitting .361 with 14 of his 26 hits going for extra bases. He has also stolen three bases. He and Tyler Fitzgerald have been the hitting stars. Their staff does not give up a lot of homers either.
Even with two of their better players on the IL, the Padres are the best hitting team in the majors right now. They are hitting .279 as a team, the Cardinals are the only other team with an average of .270 or better sitting right at .270. Tatis is their leading offensive threat. He has six homers and leads the team in RBI’s. The surprise hitter has been former White Sox player, Gavin Sheets. He is presently hitting .327 as their DH. Jose Iglesias, filling in for Cronenworth, is hitting .325.
Their pitching has been excellent. The starters have 9 of their 15 wins at this point, but their bullpen has been nails. Suarez has 8 saves in 8 tries. Most of the relievers ERAs are below 2.50. Adam, Estrada, Morejon, all below 1.00. Suarez has yet to be scored on. A really stacked pen. When they get Merrill and Cronenworth back, they should be even better at the plate. Machado is also hitting over .300 but has not shown his normal power bat yet.
Arizona leads the NL West in runs scored. They are hitting .260 as a team and have shown some power with 28 homers so far. They have also stolen 18 bases and been caught just 3 times. Ketel Marte has been out for a while, he has only played in 8 games. But Carroll, Naylor, Perdomo, and Smith all batting over .300 and have OPS over .900. Suarez and Gurriel are both hitting under the Mendoza line but have 6 and 4 homers respectively.
The team’s ERA is around 4.55. Corbin Burnes has yet to win a game, and his ERA is 4.64. He was their big free agent signing. Kelly has an ERA over 5 but is tied for the team lead in wins with Pfaadt, whose ERA is 3.04. They are getting solid work from their pen. Justin Beeks has allowed just 1 run in his 11.2 innings of work. Justin Martinez and Shelby Miller have not allowed any runs yet.
Arizona will be better when Marte gets back. Their offense is already a run scoring machine. They have bounced back from a rocky start to get over .500. They are a young and athletic team and seem to have replaced the power loss of Christian Walker with a solid player in Naylor. The key to beating these guys, is keeping the speedsters off base. They will definitely run on you.
The West has been playing excellent baseball. But keeping up the pace they have been on? Few teams can do that. To see three teams in the same division on pace for over 100 wins, that will definitely change at some point. Injuries will no doubt play a part. LA is dealing with some injury issues to a couple of relievers right now. Phillips just returned but was replaced on the IL by Treinen. The Dodgers are the oldest team in the league, expecting those aging stars to keep putting up solid numbers is stretching things a little. Pages is the only under 30 position player on the team. Edman turns 30 on the 9th of May. At some point, the team is going to have to inject some youth into the lineup.
By comparison, now that Heyward is on the IL, the Padres outfield has only one player who is 30, Tyler Wade. Arraez is 28. Cronenworth, who is on the IL is just 31, and Merrill is 22. The two oldest players on the Giants are Wilmer Flores, and Yastrzemski. The rest of their team is very young. Arizona is loaded with young players too. What LA has in abundance that the other teams do not is experience, especially playoff experience.
MiLB GAME SUMMARIES
OKC Comets 4 – Salt Lake City Bees (Angels) 3
Bobby Miller took the hill to start the series. He completed 5.0 IP. Once again it was his control that diminished what was a decent outing for Miller. He allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, 5 BBs, and 3 K. One of the runs scored via a HR, and the other run scored on 3 walks and an infield single.
Miller threw 93 pitches (51 strikes) using primarily 3 pitches:
- 4-seamer – 52
- Change – 19
- Curve – 21
- Sinker – 1
Miller’s 4-seamer sat 98-99, reached 99.6, including 99.2 in the 5th. The HR he surrendered was on his 4-seamer.
Esteury Ruiz led off the game with a single. Michael Chavis hit a one out single moving Ruiz to 3rd. Dalton Rushing then followed with a 3-run HR.
Esteury Ruiz hit a 2-out single and stole 2nd. Alex Freeland followed with a RBI single.
In the 8th, 30 year old LHP, Joe Jacques, gave up a run in the 8th. With 2 outs, Jacques hit Ryan Noda, and Noda scored on a double.
Jack Little pitched a scoreless 9th to record his 4th save.
- Esteury Ruiz – 2-4, 1 run, 2 SB (8)
- Michael Chavis – 2-4, 1 run
- Dalton Rushing – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (2)
- Alex Freeland – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI
- Doubles – James Outman (5)
NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 9 – Tulsa Drillers 7
Six years ago, on an April night, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the Tulsa Drillers before an overflow crowd at ONEOK Field. Tuesday night, Kershaw was back with the Drillers making another April, injury-rehabilitation start.
This time, the appearance came on the road against Northwest Arkansas in Springdale, Arkansas.
Kershaw appeared comfortable and without any issues in his three-plus innings and departed with Tulsa holding a 6-1 lead. However the lead did not hold, as the Naturals scored seven straight runs.
Kershaw was charged with one run, and it came in the bottom of the first inning. Peyton Wilson led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored the game’s first run on a one-out double by uber prospect Jac Caglianone.
Clayton Kershaw continued his rehab, but tonight with AA Tulsa. Smart move considering the travel, OKC is in Salt Lake. But also, in AA, he'll get the Trackman data, but it won't be available to the public. So folks like me can't overanalyze everything he does.
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 23, 2025
Also, Jackson… pic.twitter.com/EZq9iqcovI
The Drillers overturned the deficit with four runs in the top of the third, with the first three coming on a three-run homer from Damon Keith.
Damon Keith continues to knock the cover off the ball for AA Tulsa. Keith hit another impressive home run tonight, which is no surprise, because when he hits balls, they stay hit.
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 23, 2025
Also, to no one's surprise, his helmet spun around his head after he hit the ball because he's… pic.twitter.com/0OKYurmjBR
They added two more runs in the fifth to up their lead to 6-1. Jose Ramos singled, and Griffin Lockwood-Powell followed with a double. Ramos scored on a base hit from Chris Newell, and Lockwood Powell came home on a ground out by Bubba Alleyne.
NWA erased the five-run Drillers lead with seven straight runs. The first run came in the fifth and six more followed in the bottom of the sixth as the Naturals took an 8-6 lead. I do not know why Jackson Ferris was moved to the Development List, but his coming off the List was nothing short of a disaster. All seven runs were charged to Ferris (5 earned) on 6 hits, 2 BB, and 2 K.
Tulsa got a run back in the seventh when Keith doubled and scored on a single by Lockwood-Powell, but three errors from the Drillers in the bottom half of the seventh set the Naturals up to get the run right back.
Griffin Lockwood Powell had a night tonight that he won't ever forget. He caught the 3 innings from Clayton Kershaw, then got him 3 knocks.
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 23, 2025
Not every day a young man from Sioux Falls gets to call pitches for a Hall of Famer, then get 3 hits. And it couldn't happen to a nicer… pic.twitter.com/ZCml1Fi1VA
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- Damon Keith – 2-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, double (4), HR (2)
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 3-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Taylor Young – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run
Great Lakes Loons 9 – Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 3
Great Lakes put 4 on the board in the 2nd. Kendall George and Wilman Diaz opened the inning with singles. Kole Myers singled to score George, and Logan Wagner followed with a 3-run HR.
Great Lakes scored an unearned run in the 3rd with a Diaz RBI single.
23 year old LHP, Luke Fox, pitched 4.0 scoreless innings. LHP Robinson Ortiz was a one time top 27 LAD prospect in the LAD organization. In 2021, Ortiz pitched 11.2 innings but injuries blocked him from pitching in 2022 and 2023. Ortiz came back to pitch 11.1 innings in 2024. He already has 10.0 innings in 2025, but they have not been effective innings. Ortiz gave up a solo HR in the 6th.
Christian Ruebeck entered the 8th. The first batter he faced reached on an error. A walk and double steal put runners on 2nd and 3rd. A balk plated one runner and a WP scored the 2nd.
Jordan Thompson hit a grand slam HR in the 9th to close out the scoring.
Jordan Thompson…Have a DAY!
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 23, 2025
Actually, have a final 2 at-bats!
Thompson led the 8th off with a ringing double, then hit a grand slam to open the game up in the 9th for the Loons.
Thompson is a talented infield prospect out of LSU who has hits in 3 games in a row. Good… pic.twitter.com/wElMomtGAT
23 year old RHP Joseilyn Gonzalez pitched a scoreless 9th to preserve the victory.
- Kendall George – 2-3, 1 BB,1 run, sac bunt
- Wilman Diaz – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jordan Thompson – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, double (3) HR (2)
- Logan Wagner – 1-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR (3)
- Double – Zyhir Hope (6)
Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 10 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4
Rancho’s bullpen had a tough time throwing strikes late, as the Quakes saw their two-game win streak come to an end with a 10-4 loss to the Inland Empire 66ers on Tuesday night.
Moments after tying the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth, Rancho watched Inland score six times in the last of the eighth to break the tie and pull away.
Rancho reliever Felix Cabrera (0-1) lost his command, as after giving up a one-out single, he walked four of the next five hitters. Cody Morse then came in out of the pen, and after walking the first batter he faced, surrendered a three-run triple giving the Sixers a 10-4 lead and eventual win.
Rancho battled back all night long, as the offense, which was held to just five hits all night, was helped from the first professional home run by Mike Sirota (1) in the fourth and the first homer of the year from Samuel Munoz (1).
The Quakes (9-7) still lead the South Division by three games and will look to get back on track on Wednesday morning, as Aidan Foeller (0-1) will take on Chris Clark (0-1) in a special 11:05 AM contest.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Well, two blown saves in the last games, one each by our high leverage free agent signings Scott and Yates respectively. Not encouraging.
And even while scoring 10 runs without any help by Mookie and Shohei the hitting is a concern too. Kike, Muncy, Conforto, Barnes, CT, Rojas . How many dead bats can you carry ?
I know the Dodgers are playing for October but the way this NL West is stacked you got to make it to October first. And with the Mets, Phillies, Braves there are some more teams you have to take into consideration for a WC spot too.
And how it can it be with all that supposed depth we have to throw a bullpen game already ?
The record is still fine but there are reasons to be concerned.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The NL West is very strong.
The Dodgers are considered a lock…. but I think it will be a battle. A few years ago, weren’t we all surprised when the Giants somehow topped the Dodgers’ 106-win season?
The Achilles’ Heel could be the defense. Or maybe it’s age. Or perhaps a combination–as Freddie’s ankle may illustrate.
The best defender in the OF is Edman–but today he played a catchable drive to the wall into a triple. Not an easy play, but he looked like Pages on that one.
The best defender in the IF might also be Edman, who won a gold glove at the position for the Cards. Will Smith has been very good, Freddie and Mookie have been solid, and Max has been Max.
I’m hoping Kim or Freeland or both will soon bring some youth and energy to this team. I’m not rooting for a serious injury. Still, perhaps Taylor or Rojas could strain something.
But it’s occured to me that the brass might pass up on both in favor of hot-hitting veteran Michael Chavis–because Chavis, at 29, would still seem young.
Speaking of veterans, whatever happened to David Bote? Has he landed somewhere?
Sirota with the dong.
I wondered why they brought up Davis and was surprised he was even on the 40 man. His era in OKC was over 7! Didn’t they have anyone better to bring up instead?
I know it’s early but games pissed away in August count as much as games in September. I’m not as lenient with poor play because “it’s early”.
*I had concerns early on about out bench constructions. I’m not opposed to utility players offering versatility but how many do we need?
*I wanted CT3 gone. Still do. Nothing personal but so far with his 12 at bats and role as a 9th inning defensive replacement for Conforto at the tune of 15 million a year (or 12?), he’s a waste.
*I hear bitching about Rojas (.147) and CT3 but the head scratcher to me is Kike. As I previously mentioned he’s a fan favorite and praised as being Mr. October. Again, I’d like to see him be Mr. April. I can’t wait 6 months for him to hit .275 in October.
Kike has been a regular in the line-up playing in 18 of 24 games. I know he filled in for Freddie while he was down. But he plays somewhere everyday. In that role. he’s at .136./.557, with a 35% K-rate. I don’t get it.
Oh, yeah, it’s early.
I would like to see a better bench in the not too distant future, if one of Kike, CT3 of Rojas don’t get going. I am partial to Rojas for his defense and leadership and way less enthusiastic about CT3 and Kike.
*I would be good with a youngster given a chance and being available off the bench.
One thought is the youngsters need to get innings in MiLB. Well with the age of our veterans, it isn’t a sin to have a young player or two on the bench learning the ropes and preparing to become regulars next season. They might provide a spark off the Dodger bench and not in AAA or AA. They can’t be much worse than we are seeing.
Way too much dead weight now. But again – it’s early.
Fans are going to panic. The players aren’t and certainly the owners and front office are not in panic mode yet. Yes, losses in April and March can come back to haunt you. But they are in Chicago at Wrigley. Some very weird things have happened in that ballpark. And the Cubs are not some second-class team. They have some very good players. I would venture that some of the players are very frustrated at this point, especially Muncy and Conforto. I would think they both feel they can play a lot better. But after watching the way Freidman conducts business over these last 10 years, I can say with some confidence that he makes no knee jerk moves this early. By mid-May, things might be a lot different. But with 2 of their top five players slumping, Ohtani and Betts, they will need the bottom of the lineup to step up and play a lot better.
Cubs DFAd Workman and bought the contract of Nicky Lopez.
SP Ben Casparius R
2-0 4.11 ERA
SP Matthew Boyd L
1-2 2.01 ERA
Lineup:
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
RF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
2B Tommy Edman S
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
3B Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
I really don’t get not playing Smith today. Especially as this is a bullpen game and we will most likely need all the offense we can get. And we have an off day tomorrow.
Well this is not good news.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/dodgers-shut-down-blake-snell.html
Funny note from Shaikin:
Just before Opening Day, the Angels sent P Jose Suarez to the Braves for P Ian Anderson.
Monday: Braves DFA Suarez.
Today: Angels DFA Anderson.
Per Harris:
Blake Snell was supposed to throw another bullpen this week in Chicago, but it was canceled after he still “didn’t feel great” in catch play yesterday, Dave Roberts said
Snell will get re-examined when the team returns home, but Roberts said he’s not concerned right now
Roberts said the Dodgers are “gonna slow-play the throwing” with Snell for now
“Part of the messaging from us to Blake is, it’s about later on in the season,” Roberts said. “And if there’s any type of discomfort, let’s not try to fight through it.”
Aren’t you guys glad the Dodgers picked up Noah Davis and held him back to pitch in this game?