MLB 2017: One prediction for each team

San Francisco Giants: the Dodgers are toppled

The Giants have won three World Series titles in the past seven years, but only two division titles. The Dodgers have won the last four NL West crowns, with San Francisco missing the playoffs twice in that span. The Giants made a run at the division before nearly missing the playoffs as they collapsed in the second half.

By adding Mark Melancon, the Giants addressed their biggest weakness. Closer was the one spot where management could spend big this winter, and the Giants made Melancon their primary target early on. San Francisco got Melancon for over $20 million less than Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen. Melancon doesn’t have the gaudy strikeout numbers, but he’s been just as good as Chapman or Jansen.

Around the diamond, the Giants are solid. Most of the core remains from the World Series teams, and the rotation has quality through the first four slots. The recipe for success remains the same by the bay — timely hitting, strong defense, dominant starting pitching and a lock-down bullpen. A healthy Hunter Pence will be the biggest factor in pushing the Giants to the top of the division. The Dodgers and the Giants essentially return the same teams next year, but LA has more questions in their starting lineup. This will be the year the Giants end the Dodgers’ run of division titles. Both teams will make the playoffs, but the Giants won’t be playing in the one-game playoff this year.