CHICAGO — All the world is a stage, and the Cubs and Brewers are set to face it Saturday night in a win-or-go-home matchup in Milwaukee.
The I-94 rivalry heads north for Game 5 of the National League Division Series, which seemed unlikely after the Brewers took a 2-0 series lead. But the Cubs also won both of their home games, forcing a winner-take-all game in the first playoff series between the two clubs.
Chicago, which won the regular season series 7-6, will attempt to set a franchise postseason record with its fourth playoff game victory. Milwaukee, meanwhile, will look to earn its first playoff victory since 2018.
“Hopefully things will turn around when we start Game 5 at home,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “…I admire our team. I have confidence in our team. I think it was meant to be this way. There won’t be a tougher environment to play in than what they just experienced. It’s good preparation for us, and I think we’ll be ready to play. I’m sure we’ll be ready to play Game 5.”
Of the previous 35 teams that have lost games 1-2 on the road in a division series with the current 2-2-1 format, only five have forced a winner-take-all Game 5. But three of those five completed their comebacks in Game 5.
In all best-of-five playoff series, teams that led 2–1 before avoiding elimination in Game 4 won Game 5 and the series 29 out of 50 times (58%). Teams playing any winner-take-all road game in playoff history have gone 67-66, including 1-2 in Game 3 of this year’s Wild Card Series.
“We were in this game last week on Thursday, so it’s the same game,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, referring to Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series. “We had to fight to get in there, and I think the guys are ready to pack their bags, there’s no doubt about that. We had to come away with two hard-fought wins. We did it. Now we have the opportunity and the thrill of closing out a series.”
While waiting for the winner of the Cubs-Brewers, the Dodgers, defending World Series champions, beat the Phillies on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Here’s everything you need to know about Game 5:
When is the match and how can I watch it?
Game 5 between the Cubs and Brewers begins at 8:08 p.m. ET/7:08 p.m. CT on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
All series are available in the United States on MLB.TV with authentication from a participating pay TV provider. Games are also available live internationally, but not in Canada. Sportsnet is the exclusive English-language MLB broadcaster in Canada for every playoff game, while TVA Sports will cover the entire AL playoffs and World Series in French and broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL playoffs in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Small: The Cubs will face left-hander Drew Pomeranz as the opener in what will be an all-hands-on-deck situation for Game 5. Pomeranz did not allow a baserunner in five games during the postseason. He appeared in three NLDS games against the Brewers, with five strikeouts in three innings.
Brewers: The Brewers closer to open the game: Trevor Megill will start Game 5. This will be Megill’s third appearance in the NLDS after his appearances in Games 2 and 4.
What are the starting compositions?
Small: With right-hander Megill as the Crew’s opener, the Cubs have the same starting lineup they had in Game 4, with Michael Busch leading the way.
Brewers: The Brewers have faced a left-handed starter in three of the first four games of this series, and it will be four of five with Pomeranz starting as the opener for the Cubs.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Small: Expect everyone to be available for this winner-takes-all fifth game. Even starter Jameson Taillon, who worked four innings in Game 3, said he would be ready to pitch, if necessary. Imanaga could be a bundle option as Counsell opts for an opener. Right-hander Daniel Palencia was the go-to arm for big moments in several middle innings. If this trend continues, the late-inning lineup would consist of right-handers Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller, as well as left-hander Caleb Thielbar. Right-handers Michael Soroka, Aaron Civale and Ben Brown are also available for multiple innings.
Brewers: It’s all hands on deck for a playoff game, with Jacob Misiorowski, right-hander Nick Mears, left-hander Jared Koenig and closer Abner Uribe among Milwaukee’s newest leverage arms. Misiorowski and Uribe have not pitched since Game 2. Mears and Koenig pitched in the first three games of the series but did not work in Game 4.
Any injuries to note?
Small: Tucker has remained in the DH role since returning from a left calf injury that cost him more than three weeks in September. Expect this to continue with Suzuki playing well in right field. There’s no real rush to get Tucker into the outfield as he continues to work 100% with his running. … Horton (right rib fracture) threw a light bullpen Tuesday, then simulated two innings in a heavier bullpen session Friday, according to Counsell. The manager answered “No” when asked if there was even a slim chance Horton could be activated for Game 5. If the Cubs advance, the rookie will be evaluated for possible availability in the NL Championship Series.
Brewers: Chourio continues to play despite a tight right hamstring that is “affecting him,” Murphy conceded before Game 4. “He knows what these games mean and he’s doing everything he can with the coaches. It’s not getting worse,” he said, “so that’s a good thing. It’s affected us in little ways, the way we position everything. If you dig into it, it has an effect.”
Who is sexy and who is not?
Small: Hoerner has a seven-game hitting streak to start his postseason career — the longest such streak for the Cubs since Ryne Sandberg’s 10-game hitting streak from 1984 to 1989. Hoerner hit .429 (12-for-28) in that streak. … Busch has a .792 slugging percentage and four postseason home runs, including three in the NLDS. … Tucker reached base four times in Game 4 (with a home run) and hit .304 with an .864 OPS in the postseason. … Happ is hitting .115 (3-for-26) overall in the postseason, but hit a crucial three-run homer in the first inning of Game 4.
Brewers: Chourio had a hit in each of the first seven playoff games of his career, tying the Cubs’ Hoerner for the longest active postseason hitting streak to start a career. Chourio has a career batting average of .462 in the postseason (12-for-26). … Second baseman Brice Turang, arguably the Brewers’ highest-scoring hitter during the regular season, was 0-for-4 in Game 4 and 2-for-16 with seven strikeouts in the NLDS.
Is there anything else fans might want to know?
• The Brewers fell to 3-10 in potential playoff deciding games, the lowest winning percentage of any team.
• The Cubs are the first team to homer in the first inning in four straight postseason games.
