The Brewers also were in the hunt for 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals.
The Brewers also signed to the team veterans Takashi Saito and Mark Kotsay and made a last minute trade at the end of Spring training in sending Class-A prospect Cutter Dykstra to the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Nyjer Morgan.
With the trades for Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke, the Brewers were tabbed by many experts as favorites to not only win the NL Central Division, but also contenders for the National League pennant.
The first month was a bumpy road for the Brewers as they were without Greinke due to a basketball-related rib injury during Spring training.
By the end of April, the Brewers had fallen to 5th place in the NL Central, but came back to have an impressive May, by taking advantage of the struggles of division rivals Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Brewers had problems offensively but were carried by the efforts of All-Stars Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks.
Nyjer Morgan, who was acquired via trade on March 27 from the Washington Nationals, took over center field for struggling Carlos Gomez.
By the All-Star break, the Brewers were tied with St. Louis for the division lead despite having the National League's worst road record (16–29).
Along with his 31 stolen bases, Braun became only the 2nd Brewer ever to have a 30-homer, 30-steal season, joining Tommy Harper, who accomplished the feat in 1970.
On September 23, the Brewers beat the Florida Marlins 4–1, with Ryan Braun hitting a clutch 3-run homer in the 8th.
Infielders Other batters Coaches (through September 28, 2011) Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; TB = Total bases; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; SB = Stolen bases; CS = Caught stealing; BA = Batting average; OBP = On-base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage; OPS = On-base percentage plus slugging Source:[14] (through September 28, 2011) Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; QS = Quality starts; HLD = Holds; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts; K/9 = Strikeouts per 9 innings pitched; P/GS = Pitches per game started; WHIP = Walks plus hits per inning pitched; ERA = Earned run average Source:[15] The Brewers' farm system consisted of seven minor league affiliates in 2011.