Milwaukee Brewers +700

The Brewers input the break 2.5 games behind the Cubs with a 55-43 record and possess the fourth-best NL run differential at +49. Milwaukee includes two starting pitchers on the disabled list in Zach Davies and Jimmy Nelson, yet has enabled the third-fewest runs in the NL (377). The Brewers might get a boost over the offensive side of the ball since they are the front-runner in the odds to property Orioles standout Manny Machado.
Milwaukee has a yearlong crime and its two significant acquisitions in the offseason are carrying the load. The Brewers traded for Christian Yelich in January, and the California native ranks third on the team with a .292 batting average and has been named to the NL all-star team. Likewise to Yelich, Lorenzo Cain combined Milwaukee in the offseason, signing up a five-year, $80-million contract, and has also been appointed to the NL all-star team. Cain’s batting average is 1 percentage point better than Yelich’s in .293 but he trails at OPS .823 to .820. Aside from both new players, Jesus Aguilar is leading the NL with 24 home runs and is currently third in RBIs with 70.
The Brewers have some work to do if they want to capture the Cubs in the NL Central Division. But their two offseason acquisitions have hit their stride. Late-season comebacks for a couple of starting pitchers and a possible huge trade with the Orioles and this club could be poised to snag the NL pennant.

Read more here: http://boranadevelopment.com/?p=19267