Milwaukee Brewers: A

(50–41, first in NL Central): Forget about being the surprise leaders of the NL Central. At 50–41, the Brewers have the seventh best record in baseball, one game behind the Red Sox, and are 5.5 games clear of the Cubs and Cardinals. After losing 89 games a year ago, the Brewers were, at best, expected to take a step forward in what already looked like a promising rebuild Now, behind an offense led by Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, Ryan Braun and Domingo Santana, and a surprisingly competent rotation with budding star Jimmy Nelson at the helm, the Brewers aren’t going anywhere. They’re legitimate contenders in the Central. — Michael Beller