Brewers Aim to Sweep Cubs in NLDS Game 3 Showdown

The I-94 Rivalry has reached a fever pitch as the Milwaukee Brewers stand on the cusp of sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series. With a 2-0 series lead, the Brewers head to the legendary Wrigley Field, the heart of Chicago baseball, for Game 3—a showdown that could etch a new chapter in franchise history. The stakes have never been higher. After dominating at home, the Brewers have the rare opportunity to sweep their bitter NL Central foes and secure their first postseason series victory since 2018. The odds are dramatically in their favor: in MLB history, teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five have won the series 88.9% of the time, and with the current playoff format, home teams that start 2-0 have advanced in 91.2% of cases. Yet, the ghosts of comebacks past—like the 2017 Yankees rallying from 0-2 down—linger in the cool Chicago air. This is not just a game; it is an emotional reckoning for both teams. Brewers manager Pat Murphy has repeatedly praised the resilience and unity of his squad, a group that has defied expectations and battled through injuries to claim baseball’s best record. “People are wondering, ‘How does this team have the best record in baseball?’ Nobody predicted they’d be over .500, and then we have all the injuries; certainly nobody was banking on us,” Murphy reflected. “It’s the group of people in the room that know how to wash it off. They know how to bounce back. That relentless kind of behavior is a separator.” On the other side, the Cubs are desperate to avoid an unceremonious exit on their home turf. Manager Craig Counsell is urging his club to focus on the little moments: “It’s simple: We’ve got to just win pitches. We’ve got to win moments. You’ve got to stay with your process and your routines. It’s going to be a fun environment, and we’re looking forward to Wednesday. Our road back to Milwaukee starts on Wednesday afternoon.” The pitching matchup is dripping with narrative. The Brewers will hand the ball to Quinn Priester (13-3, 3.32 ERA), who, in a twist of fate, grew up in suburban Chicago cheering for the Cubs. Now, the right-hander stands poised to end his boyhood team’s season on their hallowed field. Priester has been nothing short of phenomenal, with the Brewers winning 19 of his last 20 starts. He delivered 10 quality starts during that stretch and helped stabilize a rotation plagued by injuries. Against the Cubs this year, Priester has a 1-1 record and a no-decision, including a dominant 9-3 win at American Family Field and a clutch 4-1 victory at Wrigley. Opposing him is Cubs veteran Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68 ERA), who has already tasted postseason pressure this October. Taillon, in his third season with the Cubs, blanked the Padres for four innings to clinch the Wild Card Series and has delivered two quality starts against the Brewers this season. Yet, Milwaukee got to him for five runs in four innings during a June slugfest, proving that no lead is safe in this rivalry. The Brewers’ lineup features a blend of youth and experience. Jackson Chourio returns after a brief hamstring scare, already tied for third-most home runs in Brewers postseason history—an astonishing feat for a player in just his fifth playoff game. Slugger Christian Yelich leads off, providing protection for emerging infield star Joey Ortiz. The Cubs counter with Michael Busch at the top and hope for a spark from the likes of Seiya Suzuki, who has launched seven home runs in his last nine games. Both bullpens enter the fray well-rested, each ready to deploy their late-inning weapons. For the Brewers, veterans like José Quintana stand at the ready, while the Cubs can lean on a fully loaded relief corps thanks to Colin Rea’s long outing in Game 2. Injuries could play a role: Chourio’s hamstring will be closely monitored, while Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker remains limited to DH duties as he recovers from a calf strain. Cubs rookie Cade Horton is out for the series with a rib fracture. The backdrop to this dramatic contest is Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have posted a formidable 50-29 record this season. But history, momentum, and the relentless spirit of the Brewers have set the stage for a potential sweep—one that could reverberate through baseball for years to come. For more insights, check out Brewers vs. Cubs (Oct 8, 2025) Live Score and the in-depth preview at Brewers vs Cubs probable pitchers, Game 3 of NLDS playoffs.