4 bold Padres predictions for the 2023 season

4) Padres overtake the Dodgers and win the NL West

The prediction everyone wants to know: how far do they go? This year, they pass the Los Angeles Dodgers in the standings. The Dodgers just didn’t do all that much this offseason to make anyone think they’re clearly better than the Padres. It’s going to come back and hurt LA. It’s going to do wonders for the Padres.

There was a 22-game difference between San Diego and Los Angeles last year. It’s a lot of ground to make up. The Padres haven’t won a division since 2006. After getting eliminated in the NLDS, they didn’t even make it back to the postseason until 2020.

This year’s Padres team has a different feel than even last season. The rotation was what made the Padres look good on Opening Day 2022. Amazingly, it wasn’t the strength it was meant to be.

After a full offseason to prepare, San Diego now has a much better-balanced roster. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have picked up scraps like Noah Syndergaard and David Peralta.

A battle is about to take place in the National League West this year. It’s a two-team race between the reigning champion Dodgers and the Padres that eliminated them in the playoffs. This season, they’ll flip positions. San Diego will take the division. The Dodgers will settle with a road trip to open their playoff march.