A Rivalry Built on Proximity and History

From the moment the Milwaukee Brewers joined the NL Central through league realignment in 1998, a rivalry with the Chicago Cubs seemed inevitable. Drive 90 miles north from Wrigley Field along I-94, and you arrive at American Family Field—a short trip, but one that has produced decades of bad blood.

Division foes with such close proximity are always a recipe for tension. Brewers fans, of course, bristle when a sea of Cubs jerseys takes over their home ballpark. The nickname “Wrigley North” didn’t help, though it’s fair to say it’s as much provocation as description, especially for a fan base still sensitive about Milwaukee’s smaller media market.

Cubs Had Bigger Fights… Until Milwaukee Got Serious

For years, the Cubs had bigger fish to fry—sometimes literally. Whether navigating their own collapses, like the infamous 2003 meltdown against the Marlins, or feuding with a consistently strong St. Louis squad in the early 2000s, Milwaukee often felt like an afterthought. The rivalry only bubbled to the surface in 2007 and 2008, when both teams contended for the NL Central crown. Chicago came out on top both times, almost always holding the upper hand.

Fast forward a decade, and the rivalry reignited in 2018. That year, the Cubs and Brewers finished tied atop the NL Central standings, with a tight race down the stretch made even more intense by Christian Yelich and Javier Baez battling for the NL MVP award. Game 163 at Wrigley Field ended with the Brewers stealing the division crown, while Yelich claimed the MVP—Milwaukee’s triumph made the rivalry sting a little more for Chicago.

Since the start of the 2018 season, the Brewers have turned the tables, holding a 69–57 edge over the Cubs in their matchups. Milwaukee has also claimed the NL Central title four of the last five seasons. 

A competitive Brewers team has only fanned the flames of the rivalry. Chicago then poured gasoline on that fire, flaunting their deep pockets by poaching manager Craig Counsell from Milwaukee without so much as a nod of remorse.

Postseason Tension Reaches Fever Pitch

And now, in 2025, the Cubs and Brewers meet for the first time in postseason play. The teams loathe each other. The fans make it personal. The I-94 battle is now an October battle, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

For the Cubs, this may be the most important series they’ve played since the 2016 World Series. While an NLDS doesn’t carry the same stakes as a pennant or World Series berth, this matchup could shape the NL Central for years to come. If the Cubs can send Milwaukee—who finished with the best regular season record in franchise history—packing early, it would erase recent Brewers dominance and reassert Chicago’s claim as kings of the North.

It could also set the tone for the Cubs front office. A series win might inspire Jed Hoyer and ownership to push their chips all in during the offseason, sending a clear message: the Chicago Cubs are here to compete, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

First pitch of NLDS Game 1 between the Cubs and Brewers is scheduled for Saturday at 1:08 PM Central Time. Counsell has yet to announce his starting pitcher.