The National League Division Series moves to Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon as the Chicago Cubs host the Milwaukee Brewers for Game 3. First pitch is set for 5:08 PM ET, and the Cubs find themselves in must-win mode after dropping the first two games in Milwaukee. The Brewers took Game 1, 9-3, and Game 2, 7-3, showing power at the plate and consistency on the mound. With the series now 2-0, Milwaukee is just one win away from advancing to the NLCS.
The Cubs finished the regular season 94-73, including a strong 52-32 record at home. Milwaukee went 99-65 overall and 45-36 on the road, earning the top seed in the National League. The Brewers have won six of their last ten meetings against Chicago and enter Game 3 with confidence, while the Cubs are hoping to extend the series and keep their playoff hopes alive in front of a home crowd.
CHC Preview – Cubs Fighting to Stay Alive at Wrigley
Chicago’s offense powered them all season long, scoring 793 total runs — fifth most in Major League Baseball. But that firepower has gone quiet in the postseason, with only 12 runs scored in five games. The Cubs are hitting just .219 as a team in the playoffs and have been outscored 16-6 by Milwaukee through the first two games of this series. To have a chance, the Cubs must get production from the top of the order, especially from Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ, who have struggled to find consistent contact.
Jameson Taillon gets the start for Chicago. The veteran right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA during the regular season and was solid in the Wild Card round, tossing four scoreless innings against San Diego. Taillon is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts against Milwaukee this year and 6-10 with a 3.33 ERA in 21 career appearances against them. The Cubs will need him to pitch deep into this one, as the bullpen has been stretched early in the series.
Chicago’s bullpen finished the season with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP but has shown cracks lately, allowing six earned runs in the last nine innings. Manager Craig Counsell may turn to arms like Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, and Drew Pomeranz earlier if Taillon runs into trouble. Offensively, the Cubs are looking for more timely hitting. Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner have been the most reliable bats so far, but the team needs Bellinger to find his power stroke again after going hitless in Game 2.
MIL Preview – Brewers Eye a Sweep Behind Strong Pitching
The Milwaukee Brewers have dominated the series so far with balanced offense and excellent pitching. Milwaukee finished 99-65, the best record in the National League, and has played with confidence since the postseason began. Their lineup has produced 16 runs through two games, led by Andrew Vaughn, Jackson Chourio, and William Contreras, who have all homered in the series. The Brewers are averaging just over five runs per game since the start of the playoffs.
Quinn Priester will take the mound for Milwaukee. The 25-year-old right-hander went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA during the regular season and is coming off a solid finish, posting a 2.79 ERA over his last five starts. Priester has not been perfect against Chicago, holding a 6.28 ERA in three appearances this year, but he’s shown improved command down the stretch. His sinker-slider mix has been effective when locating down in the zone, something he’ll need to control against a patient Cubs lineup.
Milwaukee’s bullpen has been one of the best in baseball all season, combining for a 2.66 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Relievers Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, and Jared Koenig have all been reliable, with Uribe allowing just 14 earned runs over 76.1 innings this season. The Brewers’ pen has thrown 13.1 innings in the last three games, allowing only six runs, and remains rested entering Game 3. Manager Pat Murphy has plenty of options late, giving Milwaukee a clear advantage in close games.
Matchup Breakdown and Trends
Both teams know each other well, meeting 14 times this season before the playoffs. Milwaukee holds a 6-4 advantage in the last ten meetings, including four straight wins. The Brewers are 45-36 on the road this year, while Chicago has been excellent at Wrigley with 52 wins. The total has gone over in six of the last ten head-to-head games, but pitching matchups have tightened in this series with both teams leaning on their starters early.
Chicago has been strong against right-handed pitching this season (.253 average), while Milwaukee has handled right-handers as well (.258). The Cubs’ key edge could be home-field advantage, where their lineup tends to produce more power (115 homers at home vs. 86 on the road). The Brewers, however, have shown they can score anywhere — they’ve hit 26 runs in their last four playoff games overall.
Betting Prediction
Chicago enters Game 3 as a -120 favorite at home with a total of 6.5 runs. Milwaukee is listed at even money (+100). The Brewers have covered the run line in both games of the series and continue to outscore opponents by an average of over three runs per game in the postseason. However, the Cubs are 7-2 in their last nine home playoff games when facing elimination, and Wrigley Field has been one of the tougher parks for visiting teams this season.
Taillon’s experience and the Cubs’ home record make them a solid bounce-back pick here. Milwaukee’s bullpen depth gives them a chance late, but Chicago’s lineup is too good to stay quiet forever. Expect the Cubs to finally break through against Priester and the Brewers’ bullpen, pushing this series to Game 4. The weather forecast calls for mild wind blowing out, which could help run production, making the over another lean.
Pick: Cubs -120 and Over 6.5 (Final Score Prediction: Cubs 5, Brewers 3)
