Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs

By Bush StaffUpdated 95d ago·2 min read
Milwaukee BrewersMIL(27-18)
Chicago CubsCHC(29-19)
52
FINAL
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MIL
1020000205111
CHC
000000020271

The Brewers strolled into Wrigley on Monday and put up a 9-3 number on the Cubs to open the series, and now Jacob Misiorowski gets to follow that act. He has a 1.23 ERA over his last 5 starts with 47 strikeouts in 29.1 innings, including 7 shutout innings and 10 punchouts against the Padres in his last time out. Chicago's offense did not exactly sneak up on him quietly.

Milwaukee Brewers
Jacob Misiorowski
(6-2)·1.65 ERA
May 13 vs Padres
ND
7.0IP
0ER
10K
0BB
93P
05/19 Lineup
Chicago Cubs
Ben Brown
(2-2)·1.92 ERA
May 14 @ Braves
ND
4.0IP
0ER
7K
1BB
65P
05/19 Lineup

Ben Brown is the counter, and the numbers say take him seriously. He started the year in the Cubs bullpen and got bumped into the rotation when Matthew Boyd's knee landed him on the IL. Since then it's been 2 starts, zero earned runs, and a 1.60 ERA on the year. Small sample as a starter, sure, but the stuff has played in both roles.

Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
(27-18)
WWWLW
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(29-19)
WWLLL

The records are basically a coin flip, 29-19 Cubs and 27-18 Brewers, with Chicago a game and a half up in the Central. Milwaukee has won 4 of its last 5 and 3 straight series. The Cubs were rolling earlier in the year with a couple of 10-game win streaks, but they've now lost their last 3 series and Milwaukee just made it 4 by taking the opener at home.

Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
(8)
  • Day-To-DayGerson Garabito (RP)Garabito will be out for four months after undergoing surgery to address a broken bone in his foot, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge (LF)Lockridge is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late June after an MRI on his right knee showed a bone bruise, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/12
  • 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff (SP)Woodruff (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to face hitters Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/18
  • 15-Day-ILJared Koenig (RP)Koenig (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/12
  • 15-Day-ILQuinn Priester (SP)Priester (shoulder) will resume a rehab assignment this weekend, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/12
  • 15-Day-ILAngel Zerpa (RP)Zerpa will undergo UCL reconstruction on his left elbow next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILAkil Baddoo (LF)Baddoo (quadriceps) will begin a rehab assignment Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/12
  • 60-Day-ILRob Zastryzny (RP)Zastryzny (shoulder/ribs) will resume a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/12
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(12)
  • Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell (RP)Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayJeff Brigham (RP)Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins (SP)Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Wiggins was placed on Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Wednesday due to right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd (SP)Boyd (knee) is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday and is on track for a full bullpen session next week, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/15
  • 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP)Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILCaleb Thielbar (RP)The Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP)The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP)Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Steele's (elbow) setback will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP)The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP)The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP)The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B)The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Chicago's pitching depth chart reads like a hospital wing. Justin Steele is out until after the All-Star break, Cade Horton is on the 60-day, Boyd is still working back, and the bullpen has been gutted with Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge, Riley Martin, Caleb Thielbar, and Shelby Miller all shelved. That's a lot of arms to be missing on a night Brown is being asked to extend himself.

The market has the Cubs as a comfortable home favorite despite the Brewers winning the opener and trotting out the better pitcher tonight, which is a little odd at first glance. The total split is the more telling line — Pinnacle sits at 8 while DraftKings is up at 10.5. Two starters with sub-2.15 ERAs at Wrigley with the wind doing whatever it does. Take your pick.

Bottom line, this is the first Brewers-Cubs game at Wrigley since Milwaukee bounced Chicago in last fall's NLDS, and Misiorowski is the best young arm in the National League right now. If the Cubs can't get to Miz early, this thing turns into a bullpen problem real fast.

MLBMilwaukee BrewersChicago CubsPolymarketKalshiJacob MisiorowskiBen Brown