Call to the pen
Fansided

Predicting the Final 2016 NL Central Standings

By Jacob Kornhauser

October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) greets third baseman Kris Bryant (17) before playing against the New York Mets in game three of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) greets third baseman Kris Bryant (17) before playing against the New York Mets in game three of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Milwaukee Brewers

Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports
Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports /

Projected Record: 75-87

Key Additions: 1B Chris Carter, 3B Will Middlebrooks

Key Subtractions: 1B Adam Lind

Biggest Strength: Established veteran hitting

Biggest Weakness: Bullpen

The Brewers are caught in the middle between re-tooling and rebuilding and it doesn’t seem like they’ve decided which route they want to go yet. There’s no chance they’ll seriously compete in this division this season, but they won’t be a bottom feeder in the league either.

With established veterans like Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy in the middle of the lineup, they’re not going to go through too many prolonged offensive droughts. However, there’s plenty of uncertainty in the rotation.

Like the Reds, the Brewers have plenty of young arms to try out in 2016, but unlike the Reds, they saw some promising things from those arms last season. Namely, Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann impressed.

In 30 starts, Nelson went 11-13 with a 4.11 ERA. Control issues plagued the righty, who had good enough stuff to stay deep into games consistently. Milwaukee will be looking for a big step in the right direction from him in his second full season in the big leagues.

Jungmann 9-8 with a 3.77 ERA in 21 starts a year ago and looked like someone the Brewers could build their rotation around at times last year. He’s still a little rough around the edges, but Jungmann definitely showed flashes.

The lineup isn’t half bad, either. They’re going to hit a ton of home runs with guys like Braun, Lucroy, Chris Carter and Khris Davis in the middle of the lineup, but they’re also going to strike out a ton with those guys playing such a big role.

They will live and die by the long ball and more often than not in 2016, they will die by it.

Next: 3. St. Louis Cardinals

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