The heat of the National League Central race is on full display as the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs continue their pivotal five-game series at Wrigley Field. With the second half of the 2025 MLB season well underway, both clubs find themselves at crucial junctures—Milwaukee riding the momentum of a division lead, while Chicago seeks to regain its footing in the wild-card race after a recent slide.
The Brewers, who recently saw their remarkable 14-game winning streak snapped in an extra-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds, wasted no time bouncing back. They took the opener of Monday’s doubleheader against the Cubs, a result that marked Chicago’s ninth loss in its last 15 contests. The second game of the doubleheader featured Chad Patrick on the mound for Milwaukee, entering the matchup with a sharp 3.52 ERA and just 19 runs allowed over his previous nine outings. Despite some metrics hinting at possible regression, Patrick’s recent form and the Brewers’ potent offense inspired confidence among Milwaukee supporters.
For the Cubs, right-hander Jameson Taillon drew the start in the nightcap. Taillon has put together a 7-6 record with a 4.44 ERA (4.34 xERA) this season, but there’s been little room for error against a Brewers lineup that leads the league in runs scored per game on the road. Chicago’s offense, though, is nothing to scoff at—they rank second in MLB with 5.3 runs per game in 2025, boasting sluggers like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, each with 27 home runs and Suzuki leading the team with 86 RBIs. Nico Hoerner’s .291 average anchors the lineup’s consistency, while newcomer Kyle Tucker brings a mix of power and patience with 21 doubles, 18 home runs, and 79 walks.
Yet, the Cubs’ recent struggles on the mound have complicated their playoff push. The bullpen, once a strength, has seen its ERA jump by nearly half a point since the All-Star break, opening the door for Milwaukee’s bats to do damage late in games. According to experts, "Milwaukee should have no trouble getting to Taillon early, and the Brewers can be counted on to tack on a couple more runs in the later innings if necessary."
Monday’s doubleheader was just the start of a marathon week for these NL Central rivals. The five-game set could have massive implications across the division and the wild-card standings. The Brewers entered the series with an eight-game lead over the Cubs, a cushion built on their recent hot streak and consistent play as both favorites and underdogs—Milwaukee has won 31 of 57 games as an underdog this season, a 54.4% clip, and holds a 28-26 record when favored by -106 or worse.
Chicago, meanwhile, has been favored 88 times in 2025 and won 56 of those games (63.6%), including a 55-32 record when favored by -113 or more on the moneyline. But the club’s recent 3-7 record against the spread in its last 10 games and a 4-6 mark overall highlight the need for a turnaround. The Cubs’ average of just 2.6 runs per game over the last 10 outings is a far cry from their season-long pace, and with the bullpen faltering, the pressure is mounting.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, the series continues with Christian Yelich leading the Brewers against Matt Shaw and the Cubs at 2:20 p.m. ET. The oddsmakers have installed Chicago as a slight favorite at -113 on the moneyline, with the Brewers close behind at -106. The total for the contest is set at nine runs, and the expert prediction leans toward a tight battle—Cubs 5, Brewers 4, with the under hitting on total runs.
Yelich remains a force in Milwaukee’s lineup, pacing the team with 25 home runs and 86 RBIs, ranking 17th and eighth in MLB, respectively. William Contreras and Brice Turang have also contributed solid numbers, with Contreras batting .261 and Turang hitting .280 with 13 home runs apiece. Sal Frelick leads the team with a .296 average, giving the Brewers offensive depth throughout the order.
The recent success for Milwaukee isn’t just about the bats—the pitching staff has shined as well, posting a 2.93 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings over the last 10 games. The Brewers’ 9-1 record in that span, with an average of 7.5 runs per game and 20 home runs, underscores their status as the hottest team in baseball right now.
The Cubs, for their part, will look to their stars to spark a resurgence. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 27 home runs place him 11th in MLB, and his 16th-ranked RBI total keeps Chicago’s offense within striking distance of any opponent. Seiya Suzuki’s power and Hoerner’s consistency give the Cubs hope for a bounce-back, especially with the home crowd at Wrigley behind them.
But the playoff picture is far from settled. The Cubs currently hold the top wild-card spot in the National League, just 5.5 games ahead of the Reds (65-60) as of August 18, 2025, with the San Diego Padres lurking one game behind. The Reds, fresh off a morale-boosting series against the Brewers, have 37 games left—including four more showdowns with Chicago in Cincinnati. As one report put it, "The top four wild-card contenders in the NL for three playoff berths are bunched up closer than the top two teams in two of the six division races. Buckle up."
For the Brewers, the division title seems all but locked up, but their performance against the Cubs this week could have ripple effects throughout the playoff chase. The Cubs, meanwhile, are desperate for stability on the mound and a return to their early-season offensive form if they hope to fend off the Reds and Padres down the stretch.
With every pitch at Wrigley Field carrying playoff implications, fans can expect no shortage of drama as the series unfolds. The outcome of this five-game set may not decide the NL Central outright, but it will surely shape the wild-card race and set the tone for the final weeks of the 2025 season. Baseball in August doesn’t get much better than this.
