The Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago Cubs on October 11, 2025. First pitch from American Family Field is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on truTV.
Find my MLB betting preview and Cubs vs Brewers prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
- Cubs vs Brewers picks: Cubs ML (+120, bet365)
My Cubs vs Brewers best bet is on Chicago ML. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cubs vs Brewers Odds
Cubs Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -190 | 7.5 -105o / -115u | +120 |
Brewers Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +155 | 7.5 -105o / -115u | -140 |
Sean Paul’s Cubs vs Brewers Preview
Will the Cubs slug?
That'll be the question that dictates whether the Cubs can storm back from down 2-0 in this NLDS.
They went ballistic at Wrigley Field, hitting three home runs in game four and one in game three.
They can put up a crooked number that the Brewers just might not be able to match. Michael Busch has been a total game-changer in the leadoff spot, and the Brewers need to find a way to contain him. And don't sleep on Kyle Tucker getting on base. He has a .429 OBP through seven playoff games despite homering just once. Tucker and Busch are two of four Cubs starters with an OPS over .800 in this postseason.
It'll be interesting to see which path the Cubs take on the mound. Going with Shota Imanaga doesn't seem like the path, so that's an instant plus on the Cubs side.
Personally, I'd go with Collin Rea on a very short leash, which is the case for any pitcher in a do-or-die game. Rea tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings on Monday, and he posted a 3.95 ERA with a 4.66 xERA and a 4.11 FIP in the regular season. Primarily a fly-ball pitcher, Rea can have more success versus the Brewers than others since they don't hit for much power.
The Brewers have a lot of options for their game five starters, but I don't love any of them.
Jose Quintana probably should start to try to contain Busch in his first at-bat. The issue is that Quintana had a 5.18 xERA compared to a 3.96 ERA. Another option is Jacob Misiorowski, who tossed three scoreless innings earlier this series. However, as nasty as the Miz is, some of his misses out of the zone can be equally nasty. I'd also imagine Quinn Priester, who failed to get out of the first inning in game three, and Chad Patrick, factor in.
My larger concern is one that looked foolish for much of the regular season, but maybe it now matters: The Brewers just can't hit for power.
Against pitchers not named Shota Imanaga, the Brewers have just two homers in this series. The homers versus Imanaga count the same, but he's homer-prone and hopefully won't factor into game five.
None of those are new concerns. They aren't built to hit for power, but they used their bat-to-ball approach to finish with the best record in the National League. Playing in the playoffs is a different beast, and hitting for power typically is the difference-maker.
Perhaps there's just a limit to slapping the ball around, hitting for contact, and hoping the defense makes mistakes. The Cubs have the best middle-infield defense in baseball with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, so the Brewers can't hope those two make mistakes.
Cubs vs Brewers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Neither team has its best pitcher going.
Since the Cubs already conquered Freddy Peralta, this series feels like Chicago's to lose, even in Milwaukee.
I'm picking the team I trust more in a winner-take-all game.
Pick: Cubs ML (+120, bet365)