The Cubs just completed their recent dominance of the Crosstown Classic for another season, taking two of three from the White Sox at Rate Field to make it five of six in the season series and 12 of 14 over the last three years.
But there’s no break from rivals on the schedule, and there’s much more on the line in the next rivalry series than their was in the last one.
First place in the NL Central, to be exact.
The Cubs head about 90 miles north up I-94 to Milwaukee, where they’ll face the Brewers in a three-game showdown this week between teams currently tied atop the NL Central — and with the best records in the NL, in fact.
The Cubs and Brewers both enter Monday night’s series opener at American Family Field with identical 62-43 records, 6.5 games clear of the Cincinnati Reds atop the division. They’re also tied for the best record in the entire NL, a half-game ahead of the NL East-leading New York Mets (62-44) and 1.5 games ahead of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (61-45) going into Monday.
By the end of Wednesday, either the Cubs or Brewers will be alone in first place. That could be a one-game lead for whoever wins two of three, or a three-game cushion if either team sweeps.
But this won’t be the last of 13 games overall between the I-94 rivals this season.
They have five more, all in one series at Wrigley Field from Aug. 18-21. That was originally a four-game series, but a game was added due a rainout earlier this season, so now they’ll play a doubleheader to kick off that massive series.
First, though, is this week’s series in Milwaukee. The Cubs won two of three in Milwaukee back in early May, then the teams split the rain-shortened two-game set at Wrigley Field in mid-June.
So the Cubs hold a 3-2 lead in the season series going into this week, and that’s important. If the teams finish with identical records after 162 games, like they have now, then whoever wins the season series gets the tiebreaker for the division title.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s series:
Monday
First pitch: 6:40 p.m.
Probable starters: Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (11-3, 2.20 ERA) vs. Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 2.45 ERA)
How to follow: Marquee Sports Network (TV); 670 The Score, WRTO 1200 (radio)
The lowdown: You couldn’t draw up a more interesting pitching matchup, perhaps in all of baseball, with two All-Stars at very different points in their careers opposing each other.
For the Cubs, it’s 34-year-old lefty Matthew Boyd, who’s enjoying a spectacular — and healthy — season with his fifth MLB team. He earned his first career All-Star nod, and it was much-deserved. Boyd enters Monday’s game with the third-lowest ERA in MLB and the 10th-lowest WHIP (1.01). He may not throw 100 mph, but he just knows how to get people out.
For the Brewers, it’s one of the most intriguing young fireballers in baseball, 23-year-old rookie righty Jacob Misiorowski. Known as “The Miz,” the phenom’s average 4-seam fastball speed of 99.4 mph ranks first among all starting pitchers this season, according to Baseball Savant. He regularly breaks 100 with his fastball and also throws a slider in the 90s and a nasty change-up, striking out 36% of the batters he’s faced since being called up to the majors in June. Misiorowski somewhat controversially was named as an NL All-Star replacement after just five career starts, but you can’t argue with the entertainment value.
Tuesday
First pitch: 6:40 p.m.
Probable starters: Cubs RHP Colin Rea (8-4, 4.06 ERA) vs. Brewers RHP Quinn Priester (9-2, 3.28 ERA)
How to follow: Marquee Sports Network (TV); 670 The Score, WRTO 1200 (radio)
The lowdown: If Monday’s pitching matchup is one between All-Stars, Tuesday’s is one between a pair of righties who’ve found a way to survive and even thrive in the big leagues.
Cubs righty Colin Rea is plenty familiar with Milwaukee, having essentially resurrected his career with the Brewers over three seasons from 2021-24 after a brief first stint with the Cubs in 2020. When the 35-year-old Rea signed back with the Cubs this offseason, he was supposed to be a long reliever/spot starter. But injuries have thrust him into a regular spot in the starting rotation, and he’s done very well in 17 starts now. Rea is prone to giving up homers, but he throws a lot of strikes and gets plenty of swing-and-miss when he’s locating. He’s given the Cubs everything they could ask for from him this season.
Meanwhile, righty Quinn Priester is yet another pitcher who the Brewers seemingly have the ability to pick up off the scrap heap and turn into a quality arm. And he’s a Chicagoland native, too, born in west suburban Glendale Heights. Priester was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 out of Cary-Grove High School. Once a top pitching prospect, Priester didn’t work out with the Pirates, was traded to the Boston Red Sox last July and then traded to the Brewers in early April. Priester, a ground-ball-inducing machine when he’s right, has been fantastic in 14 starts with Milwaukee, racking up nine wins with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 101.2 innings total.
Wednesday
First pitch: 1:20 p.m.
Probable starters: Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (7-4, 3.12 ERA) vs. Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (12-4, 2.81 ERA)
How to follow: Marquee Sports Network (TV); 670 The Score, WRTO 1200 (radio)
The lowdown: The last time Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga took the mound in Milwaukee, he left the game with a leg injury that kept him out for close to two months. He’s made six starts since coming back now and has been his usual efficient self, allowing no more than three runs and working at least five innings in each of his first five starts back. But his last one was rough, as Imanaga allowed three homers, 12 hits overall and seven runs in just three innings in a loss to the White Sox on Friday. He’ll be looking to bounce back in Wednesday’s series finale, and the Cubs hope he’ll be pitching for either a series win or a series sweep.
The Brewers will counter with their ace righty, Freddy Peralta, an All-Star who’s been plenty tough on the Cubs over the years. Peralta also started in that game Imanaga was hurt and dominated the Cubs, allowing just four hits and striking out seven with no walks over six shutout innings. Peralta’s 12 wins are tied for the MLB lead this season, and he also ranks 13th in ERA and tied for 15th in strikeouts (151).
This week’s series will also conclude the Cubs’ July schedule. They’ll have Thursday, July 31, off after leaving Milwaukee, then they’ll open August with a three-game weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles at Wrigley Field.
We’ll know then if the Cubs are in first place on Aug. 1.