MLB Season Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

Even without Prince Fielder, the Brewers have their sights set on a second consecutive NL Central title.

Ryan Braun, the Hebrew Hammer.

Offense: He's sure to have another big season, but Ryan Braun will be hard-pressed to repeat his 2011 numbers. And with Prince Fielder gone, the Brewers really need Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks need to stay healthy. Aramis Ramirez steps in at third base--despite concerns about his age (33) and numbers away from Wrigley Field (not good), he and shortstop Alex Gonzalez will still be a drastic upgrade over last year's left side of the infield, Casey McGehee and Yuniesky Betancourt. The keys to first base are being handed to Mat Gamel, who has always destroyed minor league pitching without carrying that success into the majors. Nyjer Morgan won't repeat last year's numbers, and only catcher Jonathan Lucroy might still have some statistical growth in him. There's not much depth here either.

Greinke could become the sixth pitcher
to win the Cy Young award in both leagues.

Pitching: For the first time in a while, Milwaukee's pitching may be better than its hitting. Staff ace Zack Greinke struggled through a DL stint, bad luck, and a misleadingly-high 3.83 ERA last year. He should be much better in 2012 and a Cy Young-caliber season is quite possible. Yovani Gallardo still has yet to make that leap into the elite tier of starters, though he has improved his K/BB ratio significantly over the past few seasons and is still only 26 years old. Shaun Marcum should at least repeat last year's 3.54 ERA and perhaps improve upon it if his late-season swoon and shoulder woes don't carry over into 2012. Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson are effective innings-eaters. Late-game leads are protected out of the bullpen by John Axford and Francisco Rodriguez. Add it all up and you've got one of the three best pitching staffs in the National League.

Mat Gamel, also known as Not Prince Fielder.

Breakout Candidates: The Brew Crew have a lot riding on Mat Gamel. They're hoping his true talent level is closer to the .310/.372/.540 line he put up last year in Triple-A, not the .227/.308/.378 line he's posted across pieces of four major league seasons.

3 Key Questions: With the positive PED test looming over his head, what kind of season will Ryan Braun have? Can Gamel and Aramis Ramirez replace Fielder's production? And will co-aces Greinke and Gallardo be even better?

Best Case Scenario: Braun doesn't miss a beat, Gamel has a big year, Greinke and Gallardo are Cy Young candidates, Hart and Weeks stay off the DL, and the Brewers repeat as NL Central champs.

Worst Case Scenario: Ramirez, Weeks, and Hart miss significant time, Gamel flops, Braun never sees a fastball, Shaun Marcum's shoulder falls off, and the Brewers finish in fourth without a playoff berth.

Predicted Finish: While the pitching is great, a lot has to go right on offense for the Brewers to stay with the Cardinals and Reds. They may enjoy a successful season yet still find themselves in third place in the NL Central.