Milwaukee Brewers: Top 5 Spring Training Storylines To Watch

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Pitcher Jimmy Nelson #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws against Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Dodgers Stadium August 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Pitcher Jimmy Nelson #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws against Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Dodgers Stadium August 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 27: Pitcher Jimy Nelson #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws against Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Dodgers Stadium August 27, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Spring Training is finally getting underway. With high expectations for the Milwaukee Brewers heading into 2019, there are going to be a lot of major storylines to watch in Spring Training.

When you finish the previous season just one win shy of making your first World Series appearance in 36 years, there’s going to be a lot of attention, both locally and nationally, paid to you. That’s where the Milwaukee Brewers sit heading into the 2019 season.

Most of the core from 2018 is returning for this season, with the exception of starting pitcher Wade Miley. Hopes and expectations obviously remain high, and that means there’s likely to be a lot more scrutiny paid to spring training this year with more eyes watching, and more on the line.

The Brewers are beginning their defense of the NL Central title that they won in Game 163 last year against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was a down year for the Cubs in 2018, and with the humiliation of the loss last season, that team will be motivated to get back on top.

Rest assured, the rest of the Brewers will be just as motivated to keep that title and finally reach the World Series for the first time since 1982. This is the beginning of their legitimate championship window.

Windows like this don’t last long in this league. The Brewers need to maximize every opportunity, or the window will close before they know it, and they’re left without a title. But that’s not the mentality this team has. They’re focused on having fun together as a team, and taking things one game at a time. It’s cliche, sure, but cliches are important.

The Brewers believe they can do this, and at the end of the season, when reporters interview the players who won the World Series, they’re always asked when they felt they could win the Series this year. And the players almost always answer that it began in spring training with the mentality they set for themselves here in February.

That’s what the Brewers are doing right now, setting their World Series mentality.

With that said, there are going to be several key storylines to watch unfold as we go through the six week stretch that is spring training. Here are the top five storylines Milwaukee Brewers fans need to keep a close eye on.