The Brewers and Cubs are set to renew rivalries. The last time the Brewers and Cubs met, it was during a 2025 NL Division Series.
The teams are set to renew rivalries beginning tonight – the deepest into a season they have waited to match up since 2004, when they didn’t see each other until July.
Players’ Perspectives on the Rivalry
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said that every year is a totally new season for both teams. He added that there are starters that they’ll face that they’ve never faced before. He noted that even though it’s a familiar opponent, every year has new roster constructions and there’s turnover and different energy.
Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers said that he is not going to stand here and tell you it’s not a big series. He also said that a lot of guys are excited for it, and that they have guys who are going to get a taste of that atmosphere for the first time.
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski said that any series that they play division rivals is a big deal. He specified the Cardinals, the Pirates, and the Cubs. He also added that they play them three more times after that, so maybe come August and September, that means a little bit more, and that they’re still at such a long way to go.
Central Division Standings and Team Stats
The Brewers are three-time defending NL Central champions and emerged victorious in last year’s NLDS. Chicago holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the Brewers as this meeting gets underway. The Cubs have already banked a pair of double-digit winning streaks and have led the division every day since the start of May.
The Brewers’ run differential leads the NL Central. The Cubs are second.
- Brewers: +61
- Cubs: +42
Bullpen Updates
The Crew has flipped between Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill as the closer based on matchups. The Brewers are without two high-leverage bullpen arms with Angel Zerpa and Jared Koenig on the IL. Aaron Ashby is Milwaukee’s primary lefty weapon. They’re all rested after not appearing against the Twins.
Daniel Palencia and Phil Maton are back in the Cubs’ bullpen after stints on the injured list and have been finding their rhythm of late. Lefty Caleb Thielbar should rejoin the relief corps soon as well, following his own IL stint. Combined with lefty Hoby Milner and righty Jacob Webb, those are Chicago’s main bullpen arms.
Home Run Stats
The Brewers are ranked 30th in MLB in home runs hit and home runs allowed. The Cubs have hit the seventh-most home runs and allowed the second-most.
- Brewers: 30 home runs hit, 34 home runs allowed
- Cubs: 57 home runs hit, 64 home runs allowed
The Brewers don’t hit for much power, but they have won or split six consecutive series against the D-backs, Nationals, Cardinals, Yankees, Padres and Twins by putting balls in play and using their speed while relying on a perennially stout run-prevention unit. Seven Cubs pitchers have earned at least one save this season. One of them will start a game in this series as one of Chicago’s many moving parts in the bullpen.