Brewers Take Two of Three from Cubs, Hold NL Central Lead

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs clashed in a pivotal three-game series with first place in the NL Central on the line. Entering the series tied atop the division, both teams were looking to make a statement—and the rivalry delivered.

In game one, Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski faced off against the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd in a much-anticipated pitching matchup. However, both starters struggled with command, taking time to find the strike zone. Misiorowski lasted just four innings, while Boyd managed five before turning things over to the bullpens. Milwaukee’s relievers stepped up in a big way, keeping the Cubs in check. The Brewers’ offense provided plenty of support, with home runs from Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, and Andrew Vaughn fueling an 8-4 win that gave Milwaukee a one-game lead in the division.

Game two featured a surprisingly strong duel between Quinn Priester, who has impressed since joining the Brewers, and former Brewer Colin Rea, now with the Cubs. Both pitched well early, but Milwaukee’s offense broke things open in the fifth inning. Jackson Chourio led off with a triple, William Contreras followed with a double, and Andrew Vaughn drove in a run with a single, putting the Brewers up 5-1. In the sixth, Vaughn stayed hot, launching a grand slam to extend the lead to 9-2. Priester battled through traffic on the bases, going 5.2 innings and allowing just two earned runs on eight hits. The Brewers rolled to a 9-3 win, securing the series.

The finale brought another promising pitching matchup, this time between Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and Cubs standout Shota Imanaga. Chicago’s offense jumped out early, with home runs from Michael Busch and Ian Happ setting the tone. Peralta struggled, and despite a two-homer day from William Contreras, Milwaukee couldn’t keep pace. The Cubs avoided a sweep with a 10-3 win.

With the series victory, the Brewers maintain a one-game lead in the NL Central. The next showdown between these two rivals, set for Chicago, could prove to be a crucial moment in the race for the division title.