2 Brewers
CONTENDERS
SCOUT'S TAKE
KEY QUESTION
In the playoffs last year, Josh Hader made Cubs hitters look like minor leaguers. He was 2016 Andrew Miller good. The bullpen is so important to this team and that's why Hader's health is key. They can't ride him as they did last year [when he threw 811/3 innings]. Miller wasn't the same after his 2016 season—will that happen with Hader?
UNDERRATED
Signing Mike Moustakas was a great deal. He can hit 30 bombs and he's so good in the clubhouse. A lot of people worry about him at second, but with all the positioning and shifts, he's not going to be that bad in the field.
ON THE CUSP
He was demoted twice last season, but you saw in the playoffs how talented Orlando Arcia is. He's learned how to get better pitches to hit, and you're just beginning to see his power. To have pop in the bottom of the order is huge.
LAST LICKS
They have a great bullpen and lineup, but can they win with no true ace? ... This team is analytics heavy, and Craig Counsell mixes well with the front office.... They have more pieces to trade than the Cubs, so they can make a move at the deadline that gives them an edge.
THE PAYOFF PITCH
THE BREWERS got within one game of the World Series last season by riding their bullpen. Their starters threw just 847 innings—the fewest of any NL playoff team ever—and they have lost Brent Suter (to Tommy John surgery) and Wade Miley (free agency). If Craig Counsell is going to use his staff more conventionally this year, he needs a healthy Jimmy Nelson back on the mound. Nelson was having a career year in 2017, with a 3.49 ERA and 199 strikeouts, when he tore his right labrum diving into first base in September. He missed all of '18 after undergoing surgery, and his absence was a big reason Milwaukee leaned so heavily on its pen. Nelson, 29, is the Brewers' only starter who has shown front-of-rotation potential, and having him take the ball 25 times and throw 160 innings is the key to their repeating as NL Central champs.
OVER UNDER
86.5
Where's the respect? After upgrades to the lineup, the reigning NL Central champs will exceed last year's 96 wins. If Jimmy Nelson emerges as an ace, they're a title contender.
LINEUP
CF Lorenzo Cain
.308/10 HR/30 SB
RF Christian Yelich
.326/36 HR/.598 SLG
1B Jesús Aguilar
.274/35 HR/.539 SLG
3B Travis Shaw
.241/32 HR/.480 SLG
LF Ryan Braun
.254/.469 SLG/11 SB
2B Mike Moustakas
.251/28 HR/.459 SLG
C Yasmani Grandal
.241/24 HR/.349 OBP
SS Orlando Arcia
.236/3 HR/.307 SLG
BENCH
IF/OF Hernán Pérez
.253/9 HR/11 SB
1B/OF Eric Thames
.219/16 HR/.478 SLG
FANTASY BREAKOUT
After four years in Dodger Stadium, YASMANI GRANDAL moves to hitter-friendly Miller Park, where 30 homers is possible.
ROTATION
RH Jhoulys Chacín
15 W/3.50 ERA/7.3 K9
RH Chase Anderson
9 W/3.93 ERA/1.19 WHP
RH Zach Davies
2 W/4.77 ERA/6.7 K9
RH Jimmy Nelson
12 W/3.49 ERA/1.25 WHP*
BULLPEN
RH Jeremy Jeffress
15 SV/1.29 ERA/10.4 K9
LH Josh Hader
12 SV/2.43 ERA/15.8 K9
RH Corey Knebel
16 SV/3.58 ERA/14.3 K9
MANAGER
Craig Counsell
*Stats from 2017