Know the Enemy: Breaking down the 2015 Milwaukee Brewers

May 5, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Brewers logo on the field behind home plate prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

As we head into the final week of Spring Training and Opening Night on April 5 at Wrigley Field draws nearer, we’re going to take a look at the other teams in the National League Central – starting with the Milwaukee Brewers.

This series will take a look at each NL Central club, breaking down their respective starting rotations, bullpens, position players, management and overall outlook heading into the 2015 campaign.

Here is the full schedule for the series (which also includes a look at our very own Cubs):

Monday 3/30: Milwaukee Brewers
Wednesday 4/1: Cincinnati Reds
Thursday 4/2: Pittsburgh Pirates
Friday 4/3: Chicago Cubs
Saturday 4/4: St. Louis Cardinals

But first, a look at a Milwaukee Brewers club that faded down the stretch – failing to even reach the postseason after jumping out of the gates early on in 2014.

Mar 11, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) throws in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Rotation

Last season, Milwaukee starting pitchers ranked fifth in the National League, racking up 992 1/3 innings of work, during which they compiled a 3.69 ERA (ninth in the NL), while limiting opposing batters to a .248 batting average – good enough for fifth amongst NL clubs.

However, in late January, the team’s starting rotation was dealt a blow when the front office traded former 16-game winner Yovani Gallardo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a trio of players –  Marcos Diplan, Corey Knebel and Luis Sardinas.

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In the last week (in the wake of Yu Darvish undergoing Tommy John surgery) – Gallardo was named the Rangers’ Opening Day starter, while the Brewers prepare for Opening Day on April 6. Kyle Lohse is preparing to take the ball as the staff ace – leading the Brew Crew against Colorado at Miller Park that afternoon.

Lohse headlines a staff that also features former Cubs’ right-hander Matt Garza as the number two man. Garza went 8-8 in his first season in Milwaukee after signing a four-year, $50 million deal last winter – so he’ll need to step up if the Brewers are to return to the postseason in 2015.

Rounding out the rotation in the final three spots are Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers and Jimmy Nelson. Peralta is coming off a 17-win campaign last season in which he narrowly missed hitting the 200-inning mark for the first time in his big league career. Fiers, meanwhile, saw work as both a starter and a reliever for last year’s Brewers, pitching to an impressive 2.13 earned run average in the process. Another strong campaign from the right-hander could be the difference-maker for Milwaukee in 2015.

Lastly, Nelson claims a spot in manager Ron Roenicke’s staff. 2014 was a season to forget for the right-hander, who pitched to a 4.93 ERA in 14 outings. Some metrics, including FIP (3.78) indicated that he wasn’t quite as bad as one may initially think, but his 1.457 WHIP and 77 ERA+ leave plenty to be desired at the back end of the rotation.

Sep 12, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez (27) strikes out but reaches base on a wild pitch in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Position Players

Milwaukee ranked 15th in Major League Baseball in terms of runs scored last season – and their production from the first base slot had a lot to do with that poor showing.

Brewers’ first basemen ranked dead last in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits and runs last season – and, thankfully, the front office addressed this glaring weakness during the offseason, trading for Adam Lind, who adds a left-handed power bat to the mix.

Last season with the Jays, Lind hit just six homers, but in 2013, he belted 23 homers – marking the fourth time in his big league career he hit at least 20 bombs; including a career-high 35 back in 2009, when he earned a Silver Slugger award.

Lind joins an offensive cast joining former National League MVP Ryan Braun, breakout backstop Jonathan Lucroy and All-Star center fielder Carlos Gomez. Braun battled a thumb injury all season-long in 2014, but is expected to be 100 percent in 2015; while Lucroy and Gomez will look to build on the strides made in recent years as the Brewers seek a return to the top of the NL Central.

Second baseman Scooter Gennett is the only other left-handed bat in Roenicke’s lineup, so time will tell if the right-handed-heavy squad will face any matchup issues moving forward.

Aug 16, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (right) reacts after hitting a walk-off 2-run home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman (left) in the 9th inning to at Miller Park. The Brewers beat the Reds 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee is an intriguing club this year. On one hand, the rotation lacks depth at the back end in the wake of the trade of Gallardo. On the other, an offense that features Gomez, Lucroy and Braun gives Brewers fans plenty to be excited about.

Despite the potential, it’s hard for me to see this club finishing any better than third – and that’s a best-case scenario. Sure, I could be wrong, but pitching wins championships – and while the top three are impressive in this staff, the back-end has too many question marks for this team to be a legitimate contender atop the National League Central.

Projected finish: 83-79, 4th in NL Central