Milwaukee Brewers Take Franchise's Largest All-Star Break Lead into 2nd Half

The Milwaukee Brewers kick off the second half of their season Friday evening when they begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Following a 50-41 first half, the Brewers hold a 5.5 game lead over the Chicago Cubs, the franchise's largest division lead at the All-Star break, per the Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Milwaukee finished the first half of the season strong, going 8-2 in their last 10 games and taking two of three from the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The club also won a key game against the Cubs just prior to the series against New York to ensure their lead heading into the break.

The Brewers do a lot of their damage offensively with the long ball. They have hit 138 home runs this season, trailing only the Houston Astros in the category. The club has also scored 451 runs—4.96 per game—to rank sixth in runs scored.

Milwaukee's pitching staff has fared well too, posting a 4.08 ERA to rank 23rd in the majors. The starting rotation's 4.07 ERA sits seventh in the league entering Friday's action while the bullpen's 4.08 mark ranks 12th among all teams.

The Cubs announced the addition of another elite arm to their starting rotation Thursday, dealing for left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana from the cross-town Chicago White Sox. The Brewers haven't made any big waves on the trade front as of yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team invests in some pitching prior to the trade deadline.