The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are set to clash in a pivotal five-game series at the famous Wrigley Field, today Monday, August 18, 2025. With the Brewers holding a significant lead in the NL Central, this series presents a critical opportunity for the Cubs to close the gap and solidify their playoff positioning.
Key Matchups and Injury Updates
Brewers’ Dominance: Milwaukee enters the series with a strong 78-45 record, having recently snapped a 14-game winning streak. Their offense has been potent, hitting .259/.332/.407 as a team, with Christian Yelich leading the charge with 25 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Cubs’ Recent Form: Chicago, at 70-53, has shown resilience but has struggled slightly in August with a 7-8 record. Their offense, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, boasts a .251/.321/.431 slash line and a league-leading 170 home runs.
Pitching Probables: The series opener features a marquee pitching matchup between Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90 ERA) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (7-3, 3.07 ERA). Other projected starters include Brandon Woodruff for the Brewers against Matthew Boyd for the Cubs, and Jacob Misiorowski facing Colin Rea.
Injury Concerns: Both teams are dealing with significant injuries. The Cubs have Jameson Taillon, Mike Soroka, Eli Morgan, and Justin Steele on the injured list, with Miguel Amaya also sidelined. The Brewers are missing key players like Jackson Chourio, Rhys Hoskins, and D.L. Hall, though some are nearing a return.
Offensive Insights
The Brewers have been on fire offensively in their last 10 games, hitting .290 with 20 home runs and a .532 slugging percentage. William Contreras has been a standout, batting .359 with 14 RBIs in that span. The Cubs, while averaging fewer hits, have shown power with nine home runs in their last 10 games, led by Matt Shaw’s four homers and seven RBIs.
Bullpen Battles
Milwaukee’s bullpen, anchored by closer Trevor Megill, has a 3.85 ERA. Chicago’s relief corps is led by strong performances from Caleb Thielbar and Brad Keller, with Daniel Palencia notching 16 saves. The Cubs’ bullpen has a 3.81 ERA, while the Brewers’ staff ERA stands at 3.59.
Series Prediction
This highly anticipated series is expected to be competitive, with the Brewers ultimately predicted to take the series 3-2, showcasing their current strength in the NL Central. But Cubs have still a good chance.
Let´s Go Cubs!
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