It looked for the better part of three months that this was finally the Chicago Cubs’ year in the National League Central. Then, the Milwaukee Brewers happened.
After leading the Brewers by as many as 6 1/2 games (on Jun. 17), the Cubs now trail Milwaukee, now owners of the best record in baseball, by four games. The two teams were tied entering their series that took place from Jul. 28-30.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell left the same post with the Brewers to take the reins in Chicago prior to the start of last season. The Brewers won the division last year, the Cubs missed the playoffs, and now, Counsell’s old team is sticking it to him once again.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 19: Manager Craig Counsell #11 of the Chicago Cubs looks on before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field on July 19, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 19: Manager Craig Counsell #11 of the Chicago Cubs looks on before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field on July 19, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
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However, as the Cubs have continued to sputter coming out of the Brewers series, losing three of their next five, Counsell insists he doesn’t have Milwaukee’s surge on his mind.
“I don’t really spend much time thinking about that,” Counsell said Tuesday, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. “We have five more games where we can control their outcomes. Time spent worrying about them other than that is not helpful.”
The Cubs have more star power than the Brewers, though this Milwaukee team is beginning to draw some name appeal. They also have outhit them for the vast majority of the season. But the tide has shifted in the the Brewers’ favor for several weeks now.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s failure to make any splashy acquisitions, especially starting pitchers, is looming large. Mike Soroka might only throw two innings in a Cubs uniform after they made him their only starting pitching acquisition at last Thursday’s deadline, promptly hitting the injured list on Tuesday.
And sure, the Cubs have a few more games against the Brewers to try and make up the ground they lost. But the way the two teams are playing right now, the gap might grow insurmountable before too long.
While Counsell has always stood behind his decision to turn heel on the Brewers, the results simply haven’t worked out in his favor so far.
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