The tension at American Family Field was thick enough to choke on. If you were watching the Cubs vs Brewers score on that fateful Saturday night in October 2025, you know exactly the kind of stomach-turning drama I'm talking about. It wasn’t just a game. It was Game 5 of the National League Division Series. A winner-take-all scenario that basically felt like the center of the universe for everyone between Waukegan and Green Bay.
Milwaukee walked away with a 3-1 victory. They moved on. The Cubs went home.
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But honestly, the raw numbers don't tell the half of it. To understand why fans are still arguing about this score at the 2026 Cubs Convention this weekend, you have to look at the wreckage of what was arguably the most intense rivalry season in twenty years.
The NLDS Game 5 Heartbreak: Breaking Down the Score
The final Cubs vs Brewers score of 3-1 looks like a classic pitcher's duel. On paper, it was. But for Chicago fans, it was a slow-motion car crash. Freddy Peralta was dealing. He looked like a man possessed, shaking off a rocky regular season to find his vintage form when it mattered most.
The Brewers jumped out early. A two-run shot by William Contreras in the third inning felt like a gut punch. You could hear the "Go Cubs Go" chants from the traveling North Side faithful just die out instantly.
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
- Chicago Cubs: 1 run, 4 hits, 1 error
The lone Cubs run? A solo blast from Seiya Suzuki in the seventh that gave everyone a flicker of hope. It wasn't enough. Jacob Misiorowski came out of the bullpen and looked like he was throwing lightning bolts. He shut the door, and the Brewers clinched the series 3-2.
Why the 2025 Regular Season Series Was Deceptive
If you only looked at the regular season Cubs vs Brewers score totals, you would have bet your house on Chicago. They actually won the season series 7-6. They outscored Milwaukee 60-56 over those 13 games.
Remember that May 2nd blowout? The Cubs absolutely dismantled the Brewers 10-0. It felt like a changing of the guard. Craig Counsell, returning to Milwaukee in a Cubs uniform, seemed to have the magic touch. But the Brewers are a different beast at home. They won every single home game of that NLDS. Every. Single. One.
The Kyle Tucker Factor
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Kyle Tucker. The Cubs traded for him to be the "missing piece." For the first half of 2025, he was an MVP candidate. Then the injuries hit. By the time the playoffs rolled around, the power was gone. In that final 3-1 loss, Tucker went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Watching him struggle while Jackson Chourio blossomed into a superstar for Milwaukee was a tough pill for the Wrigley faithful to swallow.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
People love to say the Brewers "own" the Cubs because of the recent postseason success. That’s a bit of a stretch. If you look at the all-time record heading into the 2026 season, Milwaukee leads 233–228. That is razor-thin.
The real difference-maker? The bullpen. Milwaukee’s "Pitching Lab" keeps churning out high-velocity monsters. While Jed Hoyer and the Cubs' front office spent the 2025-26 offseason signing guys like Phil Maton and Jacob Webb to shore up the late innings, the Brewers have relied on internal development.
Honestly, the Cubs vs Brewers score isn't just about who hits more homers. It’s about who survives the seventh and eighth innings without a meltdown. Last October, the Cubs didn't survive.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Rematch
We are currently in the middle of a massive "arms race" in the NL Central. The Cubs just dropped $175 million on Alex Bregman. They traded for Edward Cabrera. They are clearly tired of losing those 3-1 games.
Milwaukee has been quieter, which is sort of their brand. They return Brandon Woodruff, who accepted a qualifying offer, and they still have that core of Chourio and Contreras.
The first time we’ll see a meaningful Cubs vs Brewers score in 2026 will be May 18th at Wrigley Field. You can bet the atmosphere will be toxic—in the best way possible.
Actionable Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking these teams, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Bullpen Usage: The Cubs have signed four relief arms to major league deals this winter. If their ERA isn't sub-3.50 by June, they’re in trouble again.
- Monitor the Bregman Impact: Alex Bregman brings 100+ games of postseason experience. Watch how he handles the high-leverage at-bats that Kyle Tucker struggled with last year.
- Home Field Advantage is Real: In the 2025 NLDS, the home team won every single game. When betting or predicting the Cubs vs Brewers score, never underestimate the "Wrigley North" effect in Milwaukee or the ivy in Chicago.
- Spring Training Sneak Peek: They face off on March 4th in Phoenix. It doesn't count, but it’s the first look at the new-look Cubs lineup against the Brewers' pitching staff.
The rivalry is no longer just a regional feud. It’s the gold standard for the NL Central. Whether you're rooting for the Brew Crew or the North Siders, the one thing you can count on is that the final score will usually leave one side feeling like they’ve been through a fifteen-round heavyweight fight.
Keep a close eye on the early May series. It sets the tone for the entire summer. If the Cubs can't figure out how to win in Milwaukee, the 2026 story might end exactly like 2025 did: with the Brewers celebrating on their home turf.