MLB 30 Team Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

[AZ_]

Manager:

Ron Roenicke (4th season) 253-233

Last Season:

74-88, 4th in NL Central

Key Additions:
UTIL - Irving Falu
UTIL - Elian herrera
INF - Mark Reynolds
RP - Francisco Rodriguez
RP - Will Smith
P - Wei-Chung Wang
RHP - Matt Garza

Key Departures:
INF - Yunieski Betancourt
OF - Nori Aoki
OF - Corey Hart
RP - Burke Badenhop
RP - Mike Gonzalez

Projected Lineup:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Carlos Gomez (.273/.330/.490)
SS Jean Segura (.297/.335/.424)
RF Ryan Braun (.286/.363/.512)
3B Aramis Ramirez (.282/.359/.477)
C Jonathan Lucroy (.297/.359/.470)
1B Lyle Overbay (.251/.313/.404)
LF Khris Davis (.261/.340/.461)
2B Scooter Gennett (.264/.302/.436)


Projected Rotation:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA)
Yovani Gallardo (10-8, 3.74)
Kyle Lohse (9-7, 4.01)
Matt Garza (10-8, 3.75)
Marco Estrada (10-8, 3.70)
Wily Peralta (7-7, 4.16)

Projected Bullpen:

(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA, WHIP)
CL Jim Henderson (2-2, 3.60, 1.16, 26 saves)
RP Brandon Kintzler (2-2, 2.85, 1.10)
RP Francisco Rodriguez (2-2, 3.00, 1.28)
LP Tom Gorzelanny (3-3, 3.84, 1.29)
RP Typer Thornburg (3-3, 4.02, 1.22)
LP Will Smith (2-2, 4.09, 1.29)
RP Frank Francisco (2-2, 4.42, 1.35)

Best Case:

They improve on a relatively decent season numbers wise from 2013. They'll get Braun back while Segura and Gomez emerged to form a very solid lineup who can score some runs and get on base. The pitching and especially the bullpen is the biggest concern, and if they can get adequate starting pitching then it will give them a better chance to define rolls and get into a rhythm in the back end. They can absolutely challenge for the Wild Card spot, especially if Cincy and Pittsburgh take a step back which isn't very far fetched.

Worst Case:

They struggle to find consistency all throughout the rotation, and their complete lack of depth at the minor league level gives them little hope of getting into the race. Questions all throughout the bullpen continue to plague them and they wind up fourth or fifth.

Prediction:

They'll be a wholly mediocre team, just as they were a year ago. Not quite good enough, but could absolutely play spoiler in a division which is tough to get through.