The Milwaukee Brewers return to American Family Field for a critical divisional showdown against the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2025, with both teams tied atop the NL Central and every inning carrying heavy implications for the postseason picture. At 62–43, the Brewers have matched the Cubs stride for stride throughout the summer, and despite a recent 5–5 stretch over their last ten games, they’ve continued to show resilience, particularly in their home park where they are 33–17 this season—one of the best home marks in the National League. Milwaukee’s offense has experienced intermittent surges, powered by a balanced lineup that includes the steady bat of William Contreras, the dynamic athleticism of Brice Turang, and the veteran presence of Christian Yelich, who despite battling some inconsistency, remains a critical cog in Craig Counsell’s lineup card. Perhaps the biggest X-factor in this contest, though, lies with the Brewers’ starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, who is expected to take the mound and enters this matchup with a solid 3.39 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 20 starts, providing much-needed stability atop Milwaukee’s rotation in the wake of Corbin Burnes’ offseason departure.

Peralta’s ability to miss bats (averaging over 11 K/9) while limiting free passes makes him well-suited to handle a disciplined Cubs lineup, and if he can get through the first few innings cleanly, Milwaukee will feel confident about its bullpen’s ability to close the door—especially with closer Abner Uribe and setup man Joel Payamps both rounding into peak form. Defensively, the Brewers continue to shine, leading the National League in Defensive Runs Saved, thanks in part to the spectacular range of Turang at shortstop and Sal Frelick in the outfield. The Brewers’ game plan will likely center around pressure: putting the ball in play, taking extra bases, and forcing the Cubs to execute in tight spots—something Milwaukee has done with increasing success, going 22–12 in one-run games this season. Offensively, it’ll be critical for the Brewers to get contributions from the bottom half of the lineup, especially hitters like Joey Ortiz and Gary Sánchez, who have shown flashes of run-producing potential in recent weeks. Additionally, Milwaukee’s lefty-heavy lineup could give the Cubs’ right-handed starter trouble, especially if they can wear him down early with long at-bats and timely base hits. The Brewers know they can’t afford to drop this opening game with the division race as tight as it is, and the combination of home-field advantage, savvy pitching, and a fundamentally sound approach gives them a real shot to take control. Look for Counsell to push all the right buttons, potentially using pinch-runners, defensive shifts, and aggressive bullpen management to maximize every edge in what’s shaping up to be one of the most important regular-season games of the year in the NL Central.