Here we go — the primary Brewers-Cubs sequence of the 2026 season, and their first assembly for the reason that Brewers beat the Cubs 3-2 in final season’s NLDS.
The Crew is headed to Wrigley Field, as they’ll tackle the Cubs for 3 video games starting Monday evening. The Brewers are coming off a sequence win over the Twins in Minnesota, their third straight sequence victory after a 5-1 homestand in opposition to the Yankees and Padres. The Cubs, who’ve rattled off two 10-game win streaks already this season, sit at 29-18 on the season, 1.5 video games forward of the Brewers and Cardinals, although they’ve misplaced every of their final three sequence in opposition to the Rangers, Braves, and White Sox.
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On the harm entrance, the Brewers are at present with out Quinn Priester (early June), Brandon Woodruff (late May), Rob Zastryzny (late May), Jared Koenig (late May/early June), and Angel Zerpa (out for the season). Outfielders Brandon Lockridge (mid- to late June) and Akil Baddoo (late May or early June) are additionally shelved.
The Cubs are additionally with out a variety of pitching depth. Matthew Boyd (late June/early July), Caleb Thielbar (could return this week), Hunter Harvey (TBD), Justin Steele (second half of season), Riley Martin (June/July), Jaxon Wiggins (TBD), Cade Horton (2027), Shelby Miller (2027), and Porter Hodge (2027) are all out. The solely place participant harm for them is first baseman Tyler Austin, who’s TBD after present process a knee process throughout spring coaching.
Brice Turang is the chief of the Brewer offense, with William Contreras, Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and Andrew Vaughn additionally factoring in. Sal Frelick, Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, and Gary Sánchez, in addition to Luis Rengifo over the past week or so, have additionally been key. Joey Ortiz, Blake Perkins, and David Hamilton spherical issues out. As a staff, the Brewers are hitting .244/.333/.360 (.693 OPS ranks twenty third), with 30 homers (final), 218 runs (eighth), and 49 steals (fourth).
Ian Happ leads the Cubs’ offense with 10 homers this season, and the combo of Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Michael Busch, and Nico Hoerner makes for a formidable center of the lineup. Rookie Moisés Ballesteros has loads of pop, and Miguel Amaya, Michael Conforto, Matt Shaw, Nicky Lopez, and Carson Kelly spherical issues out. As a staff, the Cubs are hitting .246/.343/.406 (.749 OPS ranks fourth), with 57 homers (tied for seventh), 241 runs (fourth), and 33 steals (14th).
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Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill have racked up many of the innings and appearances for the Milwaukee bullpen, with Jake Woodford and Shane Drohan rounding issues out (and I’d count on the Brewers to make a further transfer to deliver one other arm into the fold earlier than this sequence). As a workers, the Brewers have a 3.29 staff ERA (third), together with a 3.23 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.36 bullpen ERA (seventh). They’ve struck out 426 batters (fourth) over 391 1/3 innings.
Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner deliver up the anchors for Chicago’s bullpen, with Ty Blach, Trent Thornton, Ryan Rolison, and Ethan Roberts rounding out the group. Milner and Webb lead the staff with 21 and 20 appearances, respectively, and Milner sports activities a 2.08 ERA whereas Webb has a 3.20 ERA. Palencia leads the staff with three saves in three alternatives since coming back from harm. As a workers, the Cubs have a 3.99 staff ERA (fifteenth), together with a 4.12 starter ERA (sixteenth) and a 3.80 bullpen ERA (twelfth). They’ve struck out 382 batters (18th) over 417 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, May 18 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (1-2, 5.75 ERA, 5.73 FIP) vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (4-3, 2.32 ERA, 2.84 FIP)
Sproat, 25, has made eight appearances (six begins) this season, spanning 36 innings with a 5.75 ERA, 5.73 FIP, and 36 strikeouts. He’s struggled primarily with walks (20) and homers (eight) this yr, although he’s coming off his first profession win in opposition to the Padres in a recreation the place he went 5 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on six hits and two walks, placing out six. This marks his first profession look in opposition to the Cubs.
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Imanaga, 32, is in his third MLB season, all with the Cubs. An All-Star in his rookie season again in 2024, he fell off a bit final yr however has bounced again properly up to now in 2026. Through 9 begins, he has a 2.32 ERA, 2.84 FIP, and 59 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings. He took the loss in his final look, permitting two runs on 5 hits and no walks, placing out six in a 4-1 loss to the Braves. The Brewers have had fairly a little bit of success in opposition to Imanaga, as he’s 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 22 innings in 4 begins in opposition to them.
Tuesday, May 19 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.12 ERA, 2.27 FIP) vs. RHP Ben Brown (1-1, 1.60 ERA, 2.44 FIP)
Misiorowski, 24, appears to get higher each time he’s on the mound. Over 9 begins this yr, he has a 2.12 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and an MLB-best 80 strikeouts over simply 51 innings. He obtained pinned with a no-decision in his final day trip, however he was absolute nails, going seven scoreless frames with no walks and 4 hits allowed, placing out 10. He hasn’t allowed a run in every of his final three appearances, totaling 18 1/3 innings. Miz made two begins in opposition to Chicago final season, going 0-1 with six runs allowed (5 earned) and 12 strikeouts over eight innings.
Brown, 26, can also be in his third season with the Cubs. He’s functioned as a sixth starter sort over the past couple of years, working in a swingman position but in addition making begins as wanted, much like Tobias Myers final yr or Chad Patrick this yr. He’s made 14 appearances this season (two begins), with a 1.60 ERA, 2.44 FIP, and 34 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings. He’s gone 4 scoreless innings as a starter in every of his final two appearances, placing out 10 and permitting simply two walks and one hit in these outings. Brown has made three begins in opposition to Milwaukee, with a 2-0 report, 19 strikeouts, and simply two runs allowed over 18 innings.
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Wednesday, May 20 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (4-1, 2.09 ERA, 2.86 FIP) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (3-1, 4.06 ERA, 4.49 FIP)
Harrison, 24, is having fun with a breakout season up to now, making eight begins with a 2.09 ERA, 2.86 FIP, and 48 strikeouts over 38 2/3 innings. The lefty picked up one other win in his final begin, going 5 scoreless in opposition to the Padres as he allowed 5 hits and no walks, placing out seven in a 7-1 victory. Harrison’s solely look in opposition to the Cubs got here in reduction whereas with the Giants final May, as he went one good inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Cabrera, 28, was acquired from the Marlins over the offseason after spending the primary 5 years of his profession in Miami. Over the course of his profession, he’s proven flashes of his potential however hasn’t fairly been capable of put all of it collectively simply but. Through 9 begins this season, he has a 4.06 ERA, 4.49 FIP, and 45 strikeouts over 51 innings. After a pair of scoreless outings to start the season, he’s allowed at the least three earned runs in every of his final seven begins, together with three runs allowed in opposition to the White Sox in his final look. Cabrera made 4 appearances (three begins) in opposition to Milwaukee whereas with the Marlins, totaling 19 2/3 innings with a 2.29 ERA and 20 strikeouts, although he went simply 1-2.
How to Watch & Listen
Monday, May 18: Brewers TV; pay attention through radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
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Tuesday, May 19: Brewers TV; pay attention through radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, May 20: Brewers TV; pay attention through radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This is one other robust battle because the Brewers look to claim their dominance over their rivals to the south. I’ll take the Cubs to eke out two of three, however this sequence will hopefully be enjoyable both method.