Cubs Remain Way Behind Brewers After Latest NLDS Win

The Chicago Cubs have simply not been on the Milwaukee Brewers’ level in quite some time. 

The Brewers have been in a class way above the Cubs over the last few years. They continue to own the National League Central and have been far and away a better organization than Chicago recently. 

Since 2021, the Brewers have five NL Central titles to the Cubs’ zero. In fact, the Cubs haven’t won the division in a full season since 2017. Milwaukee has won six NL Central titles since then, including four straight from 2023 to 2026. 

The Brewers have owned this division over the last four years, and they continue to get better each season. They won 92 games in 2023, 93 games in 2024, 97 games in 2025, and a franchise-best 103 games in 2026. 

Meanwhile, the Cubs remain a step below the Brewers. They won 83 games in 2023, 83 games again in 2024, 92 games in 2025, and 89 games in 2026. While Chicago has steadily improved over the years, this team can’t seem to catch up to Milwaukee.  

The Cubs tried to weaken the Brewers by taking their manager, but that didn’t seem to work. Milwaukee has been just fine without manager Craig Counsell, as Pat Murphy has helped the Brewers win 293 regular season games since he took over as Milwaukee’s manager at the start of the 2024 season. 

Now, Counsell has been a solid leader for this Cubs team since being hired before the 2024 season. He has helped bring competitive baseball back to Wrigley Field, and the North Siders have made the playoffs in two consecutive years. His arrival just hasn’t pushed this team in front of the Brewers like many thought it would. 

The Cubs were eliminated by the Brewers in the National League Division Series last year and were swept by the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Round this year. 

As for the Brewers, they made the National League Championship Series last year before losing to the Dodgers, and they just beat the Padres in the National League Division Series on Thursday evening to advance to the NLCS for the second consecutive year. 

The Cubs are obviously a step behind the Brewers. The Cubs haven’t made the NLCS since 2017. The Brewers have made it back-to-back years. The Cubs haven’t won the division in a full season since 2017. The Brewers have won the division in four straight seasons. 

With another NLCS appearance under Milwaukee's belt, it’s clear that the Cubs have work to do to get on their level.