All season long, no team has been able to truly pull away with the NL Central division. The greatest number of games a team has been in first place is 4.5 games. The Brewers, Cubs, and Reds have all spent time leading at the top of the division. As the season has moved along, the division has now come down to both the Brewers and Cubs. I believe the division title could be decided when Chicago takes on Milwaukee at American Family Field.
This Isn’t The First Time
Embed from Getty ImagesThe I-94 series has had a recent history of the division being decided late in the year. This occurrence happened in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, led by a group of young prospects, the Milwaukee Brewers challenged the Cubs for the NL Central late in the year. The Cubs would eventually win their second division title in a row and Milwaukee would narrowly miss the playoffs.
In 2018, it would take more than 162 games to decide the NL Central title. In what ended up being the very last game 163 would decide the division at Wrigley Field. Brewers pitcher Jhoulys Chacin would hold the Cubs to just one run and Milwaukee would defeat Chicago 3-1 and take the division. Milwaukee was also able to clinch home-field advantage throughout the entire National League playoffs that year. After the loss, the Cubs would be relegated to a wild card spot.
The Brewers and Cubs Have Gone Different Directions The Last Few Years
Due to both Milwaukee and Chicago not being relevant at the same time, the I-94 series hasn’t been as intense. Chicago has missed the postseason in three of the last four seasons. The Cubs last appearance in the postseason occurred during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Meanwhile, the Brewers have gone to the postseason in four of the last five years and look poised to return this year.
The Schedule Favors The Brewers Down The Stretch
Embed from Getty ImagesThe schedule down the stretch favors the Milwaukee Brewers. For the rest of the year, if you include the Cubs series, the Brewers only face ten teams with a .500 or better record. One of those teams is the Yankees who have struggled to maintain a record inside .500. Meanwhile, the Cubs face 12 teams with a win percentage that is .500 or higher. Before taking on the Brewers, Chicago faces the Atlanta Braves who have the best record in the entire league.
The Season Series Is Even Between The Two
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite the Cubs winning the last two series against the Brewers, both teams have the same record against each other 5-5. Adding to the intensity of the series is eight games have been decided by three runs or less. This will make the series in Milwaukee even bigger. One of the tie-breakers MLB uses to decide a division is head-to-head results between the two teams. With the next Brewers vs Cubs series being just three games, whoever wins at least two games will take the division as they would win the overall season series. Whoever is the runner-up will have a spot in the postseason as a wildcard team.
Another Wild Chapter Could Be Added To This Budding Rivalry
Embed from Getty ImagesJust like the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the NL Central might be decided late in the season between these two teams. Neither the Brewers nor Cubs have been able to truly run away with the division this year. Milwaukee and Chicago missed the postseason last year and will be itching to bring back October baseball to their respective cities. With the division potentially coming down to the final regular season series between the two teams in Milwaukee, another wild chapter could be added to the I-94 rivalry.
For more on baseball, check out Belly Up Sports and follow Eric on Twitter.
Featured image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
