– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:49 pm
Dodgers 2016 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2016 LA Dodgers predictions? The Dodgers have been one of the most consistently successful franchises in baseball for a number of years now. The problem is they haven’t hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy since 1988 and Dodgers fans have grown impatient.
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Even after winning their division for the third straight year, the Dodgers’ brain trust decided to part ways with manager Don Mattingly.
This offseason has been a mixed bag for the Dodgers. They lost star pitcher Zack Greinke and didn’t get any of the top pitchers or hitters on the free agent market, but they did add depth to their rotation and team overall.
The question is: Will it pay off in the end with a world series this year?
2016 MLB Team Previews – LA Dodgers
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Key Additions:
- LH Scott Kazmir
- RH Kenta Maeda
Getting a couple of pitchers to bolster the rotation was a need for the Dodgers. They got two very quality pitchers to slot into the middle of their rotation, making their rotation at the bottom stronger.
Key Losses:
- RH Zack Greinke
- SS Jimmy Rollins
However, the top of their rotation took a hit as they not only lost Zack Greinke, but he went to a division rival in the Arizona Diamondbacks making them stronger and the Dodgers weaker.
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The Dodgers lost Jimmy Rollins, but that isn’t a big blow. He did his job in being the stop gap veteran for this year and now number one prospect Corey Seager will take the reins.
Dodgers Predictions – Projected Lineup:
- CF Joc Pederson
- 2B Howie Kendrick
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez
- 3B Justin Turner
- SS Corey Seager
- LF Andre Ethier
- RF Yasiel Puig
- C A.J. Ellis
The good news is the Dodgers have plenty of depth and can mix and match a lot. The bad news is they really don’t have a core lineup they can throw out there day in and day out.
The only thing for certain is they have Adrian Gonzalez who will play 150 games in the middle of the order. Other than that, the lineup will be different day in and day out.
The Dodgers don’t have a table setter at the top of their lineup. Will they go with Joc Pederson at the top of the lineup again to start this year? Will they got with Howie Kendrick?
Will Carl Crawford win a starting job in left field? What about Andre Ethier?
Will the Dodgers dabble with Yasiel Puig at the top of the order? Yasmani Grandal is coming off a terrible second half and shoulder surgery, will he bounce back?
Will Justin Turner be able to hold up at third base playing everyday?
Tons of questions for the Dodgers who lack significant punch.
Dodgers Predictions – Projected Rotation:
- LH Clayton Kershaw
- LH Scott Kazmir
- RH Kenta Maeda
- LH Alex Wood
- LH Brett Anderson
The Dodgers lost Zack Greinke, but they gained Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda in the process. Overall, I don’t think their pitching staff will take too much of a step back.
The Dodgers last year had the best one-two punch in the game, but it got hairy as you got to the mid-bottom of the rotation.
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While the Dodgers don’t have the best one-two punch in the game anymore, they are more competitive throughout the rotation.
Plus, the Dodgers have Hin-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy waiting in the wings who are coming off-season ending injuries from last season.
Dodgers Predictions – Projected Closer:
- RH Kenley Jansen
The Dodgers bullpen has been a mess these past couple of years. Getting the ball to Kenley Jansen in the 9th has been like walking over a rickety bridge, as Dodgers radio announcer Charley Steiner would say.
However, late in the year there was reason to be a bit optimistic for the Dodgers as Chris Hatcher became a reliable set-up man.
Also, the Dodgers acquired two young flamethrowers in Frankie Montas and Yaisel Sierra. Both throw near a hundred and have nasty stuff.
If they can gain a little control, they should be interesting prospects to watch.
The Dodgers still have J.P. Howell, who has been a solid lefty out of the pen. Yimi Garcia, Pedro Baez, and they can even transition someone like Alex Wood to the ‘pen, if Hyn-Jin Ryu is fully healthy to start the season.
2016 Los Angeles Dodgers Season Prediction:
All in all, I’m not crazy about the odds on the Dodgers this season. Getting virtually even money to win the division is a risky proposition.
The San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and even the San Diego Padres will nip at the Dodgers heels and compete with them this season.
I think the Dodgers pitching will have to carry this club as their offense is pretty average at best. There isn’t enough pop or speed on this team.
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The Dodgers will struggle to score and manufacture runs and that might end up being their undoing this season.
The Dodgers should have a winning season and may even win the division, but the value just isn’t there. Neither is them winning the pennant or the World Series.
Winning 90 plus games, however, seems to be a bit of a stretch for the Dodgers this season. If you can find a book that has the Dodgers win total at 91, 92, 93, etc. I would take the under. That is probably your best bet.
What do you think of our 2016 LA Dodgers predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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