The Diamondbacks and Rockies got a head start the week before by trading away Josh Naylor and Ryan McMahon, but this week was a busy time for trades within the division. But for three of the five teams, that mostly meant sending away players by Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Dodgers were technically buyers, though their relatively modest activity mostly added in the margins. That left the big splashes to A.J. Preller and the Padres.
San Diego getting closer Mason Miller and starter J.P. Sears was the biggest deal of the day for them, especially shortstop Leo De Vries, a consensus-top-5 prospect in the sport part of the package to the A’s.
But the Padres also did a good job at shoring up their holes on the position-player side as well. They got first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and outfielder Ramón Laureano from the Orioles, and picked up catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals, among their other additions adding to their 40-man roster depth.
“The moves Preller made Thursday show a willingness to commit to 2025 and the belief that he has in the players already on the roster and Manager Mike Shildt,” wrote Matt DeWalt at Gaslamp Ball. “They also provide San Diego with some security in the future in areas where the Padres expect to lose players.”
San Diego was already playing well heading into the week, but they extended to a six-game win streak through Friday, and are now within three games of the Dodgers.
The Dodgers and Padres play each other twice later in August, putting a spotlight on what is now a two-team race in the National League West.
Wild game of the week
Friday night at Coors Field, the Pirates scored nine runs in the first inning, eight of the off embattled starter Antonio Senzatela, who only got two outs then on Saturday with his 7.34 ERA went on the injured list with a right middle finger blister.
Scoring was high that night, and the Rockies pulled to within 16-10 entering the eighth inning, still a precarious situation. But they rallied for two runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth, including Brenton Doyle’s walk-off two-run home run for a Classic Coors™ 17-16 final.
WHAT A WHEEEE!
NL West standings
through August 3
Dodgers 65-47, – – –
Padres 62-50, 3 GB
Giants 56-56, 9 GB
D-backs 53-59, 12 GB
Rockies, 30-81, 34½ GB
The week ahead
- Dodgers: vs. Cardinals, vs. Blue Jays
- Padres: at D-backs, vs. Red Sox
- Giants: at Pirates, vs. Nationals
- D-backs: vs. Padres, vs. Rockies
- Rockies: vs. Blue Jays, at D-backs