It was late on a Saturday night in October 2025 when the noise at American Family Field finally reached a crescendo that felt like it might actually crack the retractable roof. If you were there, or even if you were just huddled around a TV in a North Side bar, you know the feeling. Empty. Or ecstatic. There’s really no middle ground when it comes to the I-94 rivalry. The Milwaukee Brewers had just closed out a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs, ending a five-game National League Division Series that felt more like a street fight than a baseball matchup.
Honestly, the Cubs vs Brewers Game 5 wasn't just another playoff elimination game. It was a culmination of decades of "Wrigley North" jokes, the Craig Counsell "betrayal," and a regular season where these two teams basically lived in each other's pockets.
People still talk about how the Cubs clawed back. They were dead. Buried. Down 2-0 in the series after two rough games in Milwaukee, everyone assumed the flight back to Chicago was just a formality before the offseason began. But they forced that fifth game. They made Milwaukee sweat. And then, in the winner-take-all finale, the Brewers’ "all-hands-on-deck" pitching strategy actually worked.
The Strategy That Defined Cubs vs Brewers Game 5
Most managers play it safe in Game 5. Not Pat Murphy. He went with a "bullpen day" approach that looked terrifying on paper. Trevor Megill started things off, but the real story was the rookie Jacob Misiorowski.
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Misiorowski came in and touched 101.4 mph on the radar gun. That is not a typo. His second pitch of the game was a triple-digit heater that Seiya Suzuki promptly deposited into the Cubs' bullpen. For a second, it looked like the Cubs might repeat their Game 3 and 4 magic. But after that solo shot? Silence. Misiorowski settled in, throwing four innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking absolutely nobody.
Why the Pitching Matchup Swung the Series
- The Opener Strategy: The Brewers used five different pitchers (Megill, Misiorowski, Ashby, Patrick, and Uribe) to keep the Cubs' hitters from getting a third look at anyone.
- The Power of the Two-Out Rally: All three of Milwaukee’s runs came with two outs. That is soul-crushing for a defense.
- The "Nasty" Factor: Abner Uribe closed the door with two scoreless innings, touching triple digits himself and leaving the Cubs' hitters looking for answers they wouldn't find until spring training.
The Cubs tried their own version of the opener with veteran Drew Pomeranz. He’d been lights-out all postseason, but William Contreras caught him leaning in the first inning. A 389-foot blast to left-center. Just like that, the tone was set.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 NLDS
You'll hear fans argue that the Cubs "choked" or that Milwaukee got lucky with a few home runs. That’s a lazy take.
The reality of Cubs vs Brewers Game 5 is that it was won in the margins. Look at Andrew Vaughn. He wasn't exactly the "star" of the regular season, but his 3-2 count home run off Colin Rea in the fourth inning was the statistical turning point of the game. It broke a 1-1 tie and shifted the win probability significantly back toward the Brew Crew.
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Also, can we talk about the defense? Joey Ortiz at shortstop was a vacuum. The Cubs put two runners on with no outs in the sixth inning against Aaron Ashby. In almost any other game that year, the Cubs capitalize there. But the Brewers' relief core—specifically Chad Patrick—came in and induced a fly out and a strikeout to kill the rally.
Key Performance Stats from the Decisive Game
| Player | Team | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| William Contreras | MIL | 1-for-4, HR, 1 RBI (Set the early tone) |
| Seiya Suzuki | CHC | 1-for-4, HR, 1 RBI (Only Cubs run) |
| Brice Turang | MIL | 1-for-4, HR (The 7th inning insurance) |
| Jacob Misiorowski | MIL | 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Wins in the series |
The Craig Counsell Factor
You can't write about this game without mentioning the guy in the other dugout. Craig Counsell grew up in Milwaukee. He was the winningest manager in Brewers history. When he took the Cubs job, the city of Milwaukee took it personally.
Every time his name was announced over the PA system during Game 5, the boos were deafening. It added a layer of psychological pressure that is hard to quantify but impossible to ignore. For Milwaukee fans, winning this specific series—the first-ever postseason meeting between these two—wasn't just about advancing to the NLCS. It was about validation.
What Really Happened with the Cubs' Offense?
The Cubs entered the postseason as a "slugging" team. They hit 223 home runs in the regular season. But in the biggest game of the year, that power evaporated.
Outside of Suzuki's leadoff homer in the second, the bats went cold. Nico Hoerner had a seven-game hitting streak going into the night, but the Brewers finally figured out how to jam him. Michael Busch, who had been a hero in the Wild Card round, found himself stranded on base when it mattered most.
It highlights a recurring postseason lesson: high-velocity, multi-look bullpenning often beats traditional power hitting. The Cubs were looking for rhythm, and the Brewers never let them find a beat.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
The aftermath of this game has shaped how both teams are approaching the 2026 season. If you're following the rivalry this year, here’s what you should keep an eye on based on the lessons of that Game 5:
1. The Bullpen Revolution is Here to Stay
The Brewers proved that you don't need a traditional "Ace" to win a Game 5 if you have four or five "leverage" arms that can all throw 98+ mph. Expect the Cubs to move away from traditional starters in their 2026 recruitment and focus on multi-inning relief specialists like Daniel Palencia.
2. The Youth Movement vs. Veteran Depth
Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski weren't just "prospects" in 2025; they were the engine. The Cubs are now fast-tracking Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong to match that young athleticism. In 2026, the team with the higher "sprint speed" and "arm talent" metrics is likely to take the season series.
3. Home Field is Everything
The home team won every single game of the 2025 NLDS. Every. Single. One. For the 2026 regular season, the race for the NL Central title isn't just about the banner—it's about ensuring that if a Game 5 happens again, it happens in your zip code.
The 2025 Cubs vs Brewers Game 5 was a masterclass in modern baseball strategy and raw emotional rivalry. It ended the Cubs' season, but it arguably started a new, even more intense chapter of the I-94 rivalry that will dominate the National League for years to come.
Keep a close watch on the May 18, 2026, matchup at Wrigley Field. It’s the first time they’ll meet since that October night, and you can bet the Cubs haven't forgotten the sound of the celebration in Milwaukee.