Dodgers, Giants, Padres Battling For These Starting Pitchers at Deadline

The National League West is going to be a 3-team dogfight right to the finish. And while the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are all battling for division supremacy, they're also battling to out-jockey the others for the few viable starting pitchers available at the trade deadline.

Dodgers Trade Rumors: LAD 'On the Warpath' for Starting Pitching Ahead of Deadline https://t.co/Vf65aifXEy #sports #feedly
— K Dubb (@TheReal_KDubb) July 20, 2021

The Dodgers are said to be "on the warpath" for a starting pitcher, as they're without 3/5ths of their projected rotation this season; Trevor Bauer out indefinitely on 'administrative leave', Clayton Kershaw on the IL with forearm inflammation, and Dustin May out for the year after Tommy John surgery.

As for the Giants, their starting pitching has actually been just fine, with the 4th-best starters ERA in baseball (3.23). But according to a report, San Fran GM Farhan Zaidi said this about the rotation as a priority at the trade deadline:

"What I'm most worried about is just the starting pitching. That's the toughest area to cover if you wind up having injuries. It's just the most important thing to maintain continuity when you're having a good season."

And the Padres are having their own rotation issues:

Further reason to believe the Padres will be buying starting pitching prior to the deadline. https://t.co/Z6ngTsdGEQ
— Jon Schaeffer (@jonschaeffer) July 19, 2021

Here are the names these three teams will be clambering over each other to get their hands on before Friday's trade deadline. None of them aces, to be sure, but each could fill a solid 4th starter's role for any of the Big 3 NL West teams:

Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies
Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Kyle Gibson, Texas Rangers
Tyler Anderson, Pittsburgh Pirates
Zach Davies, Chicago Cubs
Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins

Jose Berrios would be at the top of this list, but there is a strong belief that the Twins really don't have any interest in trading him. He's still under team control until 2023, and the Twins feel they can contend next season.

One name that could blow this whole thing wide open however, would be Max Scherzer, but that's only if the Washington Nationals decide to be all-out sellers.

With all of these names potentially up for grabs, the Dodgers, Giants and Padres will be in serious battles this coming week, off the field as much as on it.

Photo Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports