Brewers–Cubs rivalry

The Brewers and Cubs met for the first official time on June 13, 1997, in interleague play, a 4–2 Brewers victory at Wrigley Field in Chicago.{{cite news|title=Brewers 4, Cubs 2 For Cubbies, Interleague Play is Ex-Cub Factor Going Haywire|date=June 14, 1997|first=Paul|last=Sullivan|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=3}} They met for the first time as division rivals on June 15, 1998, a 6–5 Cubs victory also in Wrigley Field.{{cite news|title=Sosa rips 3 HRs in Cubs' 6–5 win|date=June 16, 1998|first=David|last=Dorsey|newspaper=USA Today|page=1C}}

After battling for the NL Central title in both 2007 and 2008, the teams met at Miller Park for the Brewers' home opener in 2009. During the second game of the series on April 11, the Brewers had the highest attendance in Major League Baseball for the rivalry game.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/154684-cubs-and-brewers-one-of-baseballs-best-rivals|title=Cubs and Brewers: One of Baseball's Best Rivalries|date=April 12, 2009|work=Bleacher Report|publisher=CBS Sports|last=De Marco|first=Pat}}

During games in Milwaukee, it was sometimes common for there to be many Cubs fans in attendance. This has been largely due to the ticket availability at Miller Park; Wrigley Field has routinely sold out in the past, so it has often been easier and cheaper for Cubs fans to watch games at Miller Park (with Amtrak's Hiawatha providing low-cost access between both cities and trains often packed during rivalry games either way{{cite news|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2017/09/20/amtrak-adds-late-night-milwaukee-chicago-trains-just-time-cubs-series-miller-park/686670001/|title=Amtrak adds late-night Milwaukee-Chicago trains just in time for Cubs series at Miller Park|last=Jones|first=Meg|date=20 September 2017|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=26 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.tmj4.com/sports/baseball/milwaukee-brewers/milwaukee-brewers-fans-pack-amtrak-trains-to-chicago-for-crucial-game-163-tiebreaker-against-cubs|title=Milwaukee Brewers fans pack Amtrak trains to Chicago for crucial Game 163 tiebreaker against Cubs|last=Gallagher|first=Shaun|date=1 October 2018|publisher=WTMJ-TV|access-date=26 September 2021}}), leading Cubs fans to call Miller Park by the derisive nickname of "Wrigley North". During the 2006 season, the Milwaukee Brewers started the "Take Back Miller Park" campaign to regain home field advantage. Since then, the dominating presence of Cubs fans has somewhat dwindled as the Brewers have become more popular with local fans following the sale of the team from Bud Selig to Mark Attanasio. Through the 2007 and 2008 seasons, the rivalry became more intense with both teams battling for the National League Central crown, a prize the Cubs eventually claimed both seasons.{{cite web|url=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20060220&content_id=1317442&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil&affiliateId=CommentWidget|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053324/http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20060220&content_id=1317442&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil&affiliateId=CommentWidget|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=Take Back Miller Park set to launch|first=Adam|last=McCalvy|date=February 20, 2006|work=MLB.com}} During 2008, the Brewers had a sellout streak going at the start of a mid-July series at home against the Cubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29565164.html|title=Rivalry, conflict, chaos erupt, and that's in stands: Miller Park packed for Brewers-Cubs|date=July 29, 2008|work=Journal Sentinel|last=Glauber|first=Bill}}

The rivalry was less prominent in the early 2010s, as both teams finished well out of playoff contention in 2010, while in 2011 the Brewers claimed the NL Central title and the Cubs struggled to a 71–91 record.

After the {{mlby|2011}} season ended, former Brewer player, coach and manager Dale Sveum was hired by the Cubs to be their new manager in {{mlby|2012}}. The Brewers in 2012, won 13 of 17 games against the Cubs to take the all-time series at 118–117.

In 2017, a surprisingly competitive Brewers team led by young prospects and resurgent veterans challenged the defending World Series champion Cubs for the division; the two played in a key end of the season series which led to the Cubs clinching their second division crown in a row, finishing the season 92–70, six games ahead of the 86–76 Brewers.

The rivalry reached a pivotal stage in 2018. After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2017, the Brewers made several acquisitions during the off-season. They signed free agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain and acquired former Miami Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich in a blockbuster trade.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-sign-free-agent-lorenzo-cain/c-265352312|title=Brewers sign free agent Lorenzo Cain|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2018|work=Major League Baseball|last=Macklin|first=Oliver}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/milwaukee-brewers-acquire-christian-yelich-from-miami-marlins-chicago-cubs-marcell-ozuna-471175713.html|title=Brewers Acquire Yelich in Blockbuster Trade With Marlins|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2018|work=NBC 5 Chicago|last=Neveau|first=James}} These acquisitions, both occurring on January 25, 2018, helped the Brewers match the Cubs in terms of offensive prowess.

During the regular season, the Cubs won eight of first nine meetings, but the Brewers ended up winning the last four series against the Cubs and both teams were tied for first place in the NL Central after 162 games. The teams faced off in a tie-breaker game for the division title. Milwaukee won 3–1, winning the division and securing home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-rockies-wild-card-20181002-story.html|title=Cubs' season ends with 2-1, 13-inning loss to Rockies in NL wild-card game |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=October 3, 2018 |access-date=October 3, 2018}} The Brewers also enjoyed a large contingent of Brewers fans at Wrigley Field during this game, which marked a turn in a series where Cubs fans normally "took over" Miller Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-brewers-tiebreaker-paul-sullivan-20181001-story.html|title = Brewers fans stage a hostile takeover of Wrigley Field| website=Chicago Tribune | date=October 2018 }} The Cubs were relegated to the Wild Card Game, which they lost to the Colorado Rockies. The Brewers went on to beat the Rockies in the NLDS but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. The two would remain competitive in 2019 and 2020, with the Brewers making the playoffs in 2019 as a wild card and the Cubs winning the division in the Pandemic shortened 2020 season (the Brewers would make the playoffs as a wild card that year). However, it cooled off for a few years following the Cubs' selloff of their 2016 World Series core leading to two under .500 seasons, while the Brewers won the division in 2021 and narrowly missed the playoffs in 2022; however, they never made it past the first round. In 2023, the rivalry came back when this time a young Cubs team led by prospects and resurgent veterans (led by free agent signings Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson and Marcus Stroman) challenged a first place Brewers team for the division. The Brewers would win the division, the Cubs would collapse and miss the playoffs, and the Brewers would once again be knocked out in the first round.

{{Game log start|style={{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};|title= Brewers vs. Cubs Season-by-Season Results}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};|title=1990s (Cubs, 14–13)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at Milwaukee Brewers |at Chicago Cubs |Overall series|Notes}}

|-

| {{mlby|1997}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 2{{nbnd}}1

| no games

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 2{{nbnd}}1

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
2{{nbnd}}1

| Only interleague season

|-

| {{mlby|1998}}

| Tie

| 6{{nbnd}}6

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
8{{nbnd}}7

| With MLB's expansion and realignment, Brewers are transferred from the AL Central and are placed in NL Central with the Cubs

|-

| {{mlby|1999}}

| Tie

| 6{{nbnd}}6

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
14{{nbnd}}13

|

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};|title=2000s (Cubs, 84–76)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at Milwaukee Brewers |at Chicago Cubs |Overall series|Notes}}

|-

| {{mlby|2000}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 7{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}1

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}2

| Tie
20{{nbnd}}20

|

|-

| {{mlby|2001}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 9{{nbnd}}8

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 4{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
29{{nbnd}}28

|

|-

| {{mlby|2002}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 10{{nbnd}}7

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 4{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
39{{nbnd}}35

|

|-

| {{mlby|2003}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 10{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 7{{nbnd}}0

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}3

| Tie
45{{nbnd}}45

|

|-

| {{mlby|2004}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 10{{nbnd}}7

| Tie, 5{{nbnd}}5

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
55{{nbnd}}52

|

|-

| {{mlby|2005}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 9{{nbnd}}7

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 4{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
62{{nbnd}}61

|

|-

| {{mlby|2006}}

| Tie

| 8{{nbnd}}8

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 4{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
70{{nbnd}}69

|

|-

| {{mlby|2007}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 9{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 4{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
79{{nbnd}}75

|

|-

| {{mlby|2008}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 9{{nbnd}}7

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
88{{nbnd}}82

| Brewers clinched NL Wild Card and first postseason appearance since 1982 against the Cubs in game 162 of the regular season in Milwaukee with a victory along with a Mets' loss.

|-

| {{mlby|2009}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 10{{nbnd}}7

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
98{{nbnd}}89

|

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title=2010s (Tie, 91–91)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at Milwaukee Brewers |at Chicago Cubs |Overall series|Notes}}

|-

| {{mlby|2010}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 9{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 6{{nbnd}}3

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
107{{nbnd}}95

|

|-

| {{mlby|2011}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 10{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 8{{nbnd}}1

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 5{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
113{{nbnd}}105

|

|-

| {{mlby|2012}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 13{{nbnd}}4

| Brewers, 7{{nbnd}}2

| Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
118{{nbnd}}117

| Cubs hire former Brewers manager Dale Sveum as manager. Brewers win 10 straight home meetings (April 2011 – May 2012).

|-

| {{mlby|2013}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 13{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
131{{nbnd}}123

| MLB realignment results in teams meeting 19 times per season beginning in 2013.

|-

| {{mlby|2014}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 11{{nbnd}}8

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
139{{nbnd}}134

|

|-

| {{mlby|2015}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 14{{nbnd}}5

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 8{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 6{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
148{{nbnd}}144

|

|-

| {{mlby|2016}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 11{{nbnd}}8

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
159{{nbnd}}152

| Cubs win 2016 World Series

|-

| {{mlby|2017}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 10{{nbnd}}9

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 6{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
169{{nbnd}}161

|

|-

| {{mlby|2018}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 11{{nbnd}}9

| Tie, 5{{nbnd}}5

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 6{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
180{{nbnd}}170

| Both teams were 95–67, tied atop the division after 162 games, so they played a tie-breaker game to determine the division champion. The Brewers won the tie-breaker in Chicago, 3–1, to win the division, while the Cubs were relegated to the Wild Card Game.

|-

| {{mlby|2019}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 10{{nbnd}}9

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 7{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 6{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
189{{nbnd}}180

|

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};|title=2020s (Brewers, 46–33)|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at Milwaukee Brewers |at Chicago Cubs |Overall series|Notes}}

|-

| {{mlby|2020}}

| Tie

| 5{{nbnd}}5

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 2{{nbnd}}1

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 4{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs
194{{nbnd}}185

| Season shortened to 60 games (with 10 meetings) due to COVID-19 pandemic.

|-

| {{mlby|2021}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 15{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 7{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 8{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
200{{nbnd}}198

|

|-

| {{mlby|2022}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 10{{nbnd}}9

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 6{{nbnd}}4

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
209{{nbnd}}208

| Last year of 19 divisional games against each other. Balanced schedule starts in 2023 only 13 games against each other.

|-

| {{mlby|2023}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 7{{nbnd}}6

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 4{{nbnd}}3

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
216{{nbnd}}214

|

|-

|{{mlby|2024}}

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 8{{nbnd}}5

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 5{{nbnd}}2

| Tie, 3{{nbnd}}3

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
224{{nbnd}}219

|

|-

| {{mlby|2025}}

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | 3{{nbnd}}2

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 2{{nbnd}}1

| Tie, 1{{nbnd}}1

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers
226{{nbnd}}222

| Upcoming at Brewers, July 28{{nbnd}}30
Upcoming at Cubs, August 19{{nbnd}}21

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{Baseball primary style|}};|title=Summary of Results|Season|colspan2=2|Season series|at Milwaukee Brewers |at Chicago Cubs |Notes}}

|-

| Regular Season

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | 226{{nbnd}}222

| style="{{Baseball secondary style|Milwaukee Brewers}};" | Brewers, 118{{nbnd}}106

| style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago Cubs}};" | Cubs, 116{{nbnd}}108

|

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log end}}

Sports rivalries of the same cities/states:

• Bears–Packers rivalry

{{reflist}}

{{Chicago Cubs}}

{{Milwaukee Brewers}}

{{MLB rivalries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brewers-Cubs Rivalry}}

Category:Milwaukee Brewers

Category:Chicago Cubs

Category:Major League Baseball rivalries

Category:Sports in the Midwestern United States