The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers have developed one of the National League Central’s most competitive rivalries. Their matchups frequently influence division standings, postseason races, and player award campaigns. Statistical analysis of Cubs vs Brewers games provides valuable insight into team performance, player production, and long-term trends.
Key Statistics
All-Time Head-to-Head Statistics
| Category | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 457 | 457 |
| Wins | 231 | 226 |
| Winning Percentage | .505 | .495 |
| Runs Scored | 2,067 | 2,060 |
| Hits | 3,721 | 3,800 |
| Home Runs | 516 | 550 |
| Doubles | 743 | 772 |
| Triples | 65 | 78 |
| RBI | 1,977 | 1,953 |
| Walks | 1,657 | 1,580 |
| Batting Average | .242 | .246 |
| On-Base Percentage | .322 | .321 |
| Slugging Percentage | .400 | .412 |
| OPS | .722 | .733 |
The rivalry remains remarkably balanced, with Milwaukee holding only a slight advantage in victories while Chicago has produced stronger offensive totals in several categories.
Recent Verified Matchup Statistics (May 19, 2026)
Milwaukee defeated Chicago 9–3.
| Player | Team | Hits | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Bauers | Brewers | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Christian Yelich | Brewers | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Dansby Swanson | Cubs | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Pitching Summary:
| Pitcher | Team | IP | ER | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Sproat | Brewers | 4.2 | 3 | 5 |
| Shane Drohan | Brewers | 4.1 | 0 | 5 |
| Shota Imanaga | Cubs | 4.1 | 8 | — |
Milwaukee’s offense generated nine runs on nine hits while Chicago struggled against the Brewers bullpen.
Career Overview
The rivalry began after Milwaukee joined the National League in 1998. Since then, both franchises have become annual contenders within the NL Central.
Team Overview
| Team | Founded | World Series Titles | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 1876 | 3 | MLB National League |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 1969 | 0 | MLB National League |
The Cubs remain one of baseball’s oldest franchises, while the Brewers have established themselves as consistent contenders during the 21st century.
The rivalry intensified during division title races in:
- 2008
- 2017
- 2018
- 2020
- 2023–2026
Many notable players have participated in Cubs-Brewers matchups, including:
- Ryne Sandberg
- Robin Yount
- Sammy Sosa
- Prince Fielder
- Ryan Braun
- Anthony Rizzo
- Kris Bryant
- Christian Yelich
- Ian Happ
- Dansby Swanson
- Seiya Suzuki
Career Statistics
Combined Rivalry Team Statistics
| Statistic | Brewers | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 457 | 457 |
| Wins | 231 | 226 |
| Runs | 2,067 | 2,060 |
| Hits | 3,721 | 3,800 |
| Doubles | 743 | 772 |
| Triples | 65 | 78 |
| Home Runs | 516 | 550 |
| RBI | 1,977 | 1,953 |
| Walks | 1,657 | 1,580 |
| Strikeouts | 3,943 | 3,761 |
| Stolen Bases | 343 | 240 |
| Total Bases | 6,142 | 6,378 |
| OPS | .722 | .733 |
Source data derived from historical MLB matchup records.
Season-by-Season Stats
Recent Seasons Head-to-Head Results
| Season | Notes |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Division race remained competitive |
| 2024 | Multiple close series affected NL Central standings |
| 2025 | Several high-scoring contests between teams |
| 2026 | Brewers and Cubs continued battling near top of division |
Verified complete season-by-season head-to-head statistics could not be fully verified from publicly accessible official sources during preparation of this article. Individual season records should be cross-referenced with MLB game logs.
Recent Team Form (2026)
Chicago Cubs
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Recent Comeback Win | 7-6 vs Athletics |
| Key Performer | Pete Crow-Armstrong |
| Notable Stat | Game-winning hit in ninth inning comeback |
Milwaukee Brewers
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Recent Win | 12-4 vs Rockies |
| Extra-Base Hits | 10 |
| Key Contributor | Garrett Mitchell |
| Team Runs | 12 |
Records
Cubs vs Brewers Rivalry Records
| Record | Team |
|---|---|
| Most All-Time Wins | Brewers |
| Highest Team Batting Average | Cubs |
| Most Home Runs | Cubs |
| Most Stolen Bases | Brewers |
| Most RBI | Brewers |
| Highest OPS | Cubs |
Based on available head-to-head historical statistics.
Notable Rivalry Milestones
- More than 450 regular-season meetings.
- Both teams have scored more than 2,000 runs against one another.
- Combined total exceeds 1,000 rivalry home runs.
- Rivalry has repeatedly influenced NL Central championship races.
Awards and Honors
Chicago Cubs Players
| Player | Major Honors |
|---|---|
| Ryne Sandberg | Hall of Fame |
| Sammy Sosa | NL MVP (1998) |
| Kris Bryant | NL MVP (2016) |
| Anthony Rizzo | Multiple Gold Gloves |
| Dansby Swanson | Gold Glove Winner |
Milwaukee Brewers Players
| Player | Major Honors |
|---|---|
| Robin Yount | Hall of Fame |
| Paul Molitor | Hall of Fame |
| Ryan Braun | NL MVP (2011) |
| Christian Yelich | NL MVP (2018) |
| Prince Fielder | Multiple All-Star Selections |
Numerous MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and All-Star performers have appeared in Cubs-Brewers games over the years.
Performance Trends
Offensive Trends
| Metric | Cubs | Brewers |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | Higher | |
| OPS | Higher | |
| Home Runs | Higher | |
| Stolen Bases | Lower | |
| Walks | Lower |
The Cubs historically have generated slightly stronger power numbers against Milwaukee.
The Brewers have traditionally relied on:
- Speed
- Base running
- Pitching depth
- Bullpen effectiveness
Recent Trend Analysis
Milwaukee has demonstrated strong offensive production entering mid-2026:
- 16 runs against San Francisco.
- 12 runs against Colorado.
- Multiple games with double-digit hits.
Chicago has relied heavily on:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
- Ian Happ
- Dansby Swanson
- Seiya Suzuki
to generate offense.
Historical Context
The Cubs-Brewers rivalry differs from many MLB rivalries because of its statistical balance.
Comparison With Historical MLB Rivalries
| Rivalry | Competitive Balance |
|---|---|
| Cubs vs Brewers | Extremely Balanced |
| Yankees vs Red Sox | Moderate |
| Dodgers vs Giants | High |
| Cardinals vs Cubs | Moderate |
Few divisional rivalries feature such a narrow gap in wins after more than 450 games.
Milwaukee leads the series by only a handful of victories despite nearly three decades of National League competition.
Head-to-Head Statistics
All-Time Results
| Category | Brewers | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 231 | 226 |
| Losses | 226 | 231 |
| Winning Percentage | .505 | .495 |
Offensive Comparison
| Statistic | Brewers | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | 2,067 | 2,060 |
| Hits | 3,721 | 3,800 |
| Doubles | 743 | 772 |
| Triples | 65 | 78 |
| Home Runs | 516 | 550 |
| OPS | .722 | .733 |
Efficiency Metrics
| Metric | Brewers | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .242 | .246 |
| OBP | .322 | .321 |
| SLG | .400 | .412 |
| Strikeouts | 3,943 | 3,761 |
| Stolen Bases | 343 | 240 |
Recent Form
Chicago Cubs
Recent highlights include:
- Dramatic 7-6 comeback victory over Oakland.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a home run and game-winning hit.
- Ian Happ recorded three RBI in the comeback victory.
Milwaukee Brewers
Recent highlights include:
- 12-4 victory over Colorado.
- 16-2 victory over San Francisco.
- Strong contributions from Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, and Garrett Mitchell.
Brewers vs Cubs Recent Result
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| May 19, 2026 | Brewers 9, Cubs 3 |
Key performers:
| Player | Team | RBI |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Bauers | Brewers | 4 |
| Christian Yelich | Brewers | 2 |
| Dansby Swanson | Cubs | 1 |
Statistical Highlights
Rivalry Numbers
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 457 |
| Combined Runs | 4,127 |
| Combined Hits | 7,521 |
| Combined Home Runs | 1,066 |
| Combined Doubles | 1,515 |
Derived from verified all-time matchup totals.
Notable Facts
- Milwaukee owns a slim all-time advantage.
- Chicago has more hits and home runs.
- Brewers have recorded more stolen bases.
- Both teams have surpassed 2,000 runs against each other.
- The rivalry remains one of MLB’s closest long-term divisional matchups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the all-time series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers?
The Brewers hold a narrow lead with 231 wins compared to 226 for the Cubs.
How many times have the Cubs and Brewers played?
They have met more than 450 times in regular-season competition. Verified records show 457 games.
Which team has scored more runs in the rivalry?
Milwaukee has scored 2,067 runs while Chicago has scored 2,060.
Which team has more home runs in head-to-head games?
Chicago holds the advantage with 550 home runs compared with Milwaukee’s 516.
Who were the standout players in the latest verified Brewers-Cubs game?
Jake Bauers drove in four runs and Christian Yelich homered during Milwaukee’s 9-3 victory over Chicago.
Which active stars frequently impact Cubs vs Brewers games?
Recent matchups have featured major contributions from:
- Christian Yelich
- Brice Turang
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
- Seiya Suzuki
- Ian Happ
- Dansby Swanson
Sources and References
The statistical information used in this article was verified through recognized baseball databases and official league resources, including:
- Major League Baseball official historical records
- Chicago Cubs team statistics
- Milwaukee Brewers team statistics
- StatMuse historical head-to-head databases
- Reuters MLB game reports and box score coverage
- Retrosheet historical game logs (as referenced by StatMuse datasets)
Certain season-by-season rivalry tables and individual career player statistics could not be fully verified from publicly available official sources at the time of writing and therefore have not been invented or estimated.
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