One CY young Dark Horse from each Team: NL WEST ADDITION

 The Dodgers arguably have one of the best teams ever assembled in the history of baseball, and it all started when they locked up Shohei Ohtani in December of 2023. We all know about the lineup and how dangerous it can be, but what makes this team extra special is the rotation. And I'm sure you all may assume my darkhorse pick is going to be Yamamoto, Sasaki, Ohtani, Snell, or Glasnow, but no….. My prediction is that Dustin May, who almost got killed from lettuce, will be the glue to this rotation, and a deciding factor on why the Dodgers will use a 6 man rotation once Ohtani is fully back.  May in Spring Training, 3.60 ERA, 10 IP , 12ks and a 2-0 record, remember this article folks….. Dustin “Lettuce” May. 

My Dbacks choice may surprise some, but all Dback fans know how good this young buck is going to be this year. No, not the guys in the front, like Gallen and Kelly, and for sure not the “Ace” Corbin Burns who saw a decline in velocity towards the end of last year. The name you've been waiting for is Brandon Pfaadt. Coming off a solid 2024 campaign where experience was gained, he held a respectable 11-10 record with an ERA of 4.7 which will undoubtedly go down in 2025. Being able to watch Burns, Gallen ,and Kelly shove and be professionals day in and day out will rub off on Pfaadt and mold him into a Cy young candidate this year.  ( I have bought all your rookie cards, you better be good jerk ) 

The Padres have a tall task in front of them this year, it's not going to be easy. This offense may have to carry a bit, but the front two guys in the rotation ( Cease and King )  are as good as anyone. Count in an aging Yu Darvish to that duo too, this rotation for sure needs to adapt a gritty attitude when throwing to lineups. My Dark horse sleeper is Micheal King, coming off a tremendous season holding a 13-9 record and a 2.95 ERA  he is bound to make another jump and be considered an elite arm in the MLB. Statically based off last year, I get it, not much of a dark horse, but I know most of you readers out there are calling me idiotic for mentioning Michael King and Cy young in the same sentence….. Keep scrolling haters. 

My Giants pick would be considered a dark horse in 2025, but in 2021 this guy was unhittable, and I truly mean unhittable. And no not Justin Verlander ( LOL) His name is Robbie Ray the guy is  filled with Aura and nasty stuff out there. Robbie Ray won the Cy Young in 2021 which is long ago, but Robbie got  Tommy John surgery in 2023 and is feeling fresh. This Staff is legit, Webb, Verlander, Ray, and Jordan Hicks leading the way.  I can see this Giants team making Noise, real noise, like Banging Pots and Pans noise, like firework noise, like the crack of the bat Buster Posey noise. Back to my point, Robbie Ray is 3-0 with a 1.86 Era this Spring, with 23k’s in 19 innings. 

And my Rockies pick doesn't matter cause they STINK, no one cares. But if you want a pick Todd Helton…. 

- Written by a Guy who knows Ball