The Chicago Cubs’ promising postseason run came to an abrupt end in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, as their lineup, overly dependent on the long ball, managed only six baserunners and failed to generate consistent offense when it mattered most, culminating in a 3-1 loss that sent them home.
Milwaukee (AP) — The high-flying offense that propelled the Chicago Cubs through a compelling 2025 season and deep into the postseason ultimately fell silent when it counted most. For the only time in the entire NL Division Series, the Cubs failed to score in the first inning of Game 5, a critical flaw that foreshadowed their ultimate 3-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the winner-take-all showdown on Saturday. This inability to generate early momentum and sustain offense effectively spelled the end of their playoff hopes, as detailed by the Associated Press.
The Cubs’ lineup, which had grown heavily reliant on the long ball throughout the series and the entire postseason, found itself stifled by a parade of Brewers relievers. Manager Craig Counsell candidly summed up the team’s struggles, stating, “We just didn’t do much. We had six baserunners. You’re going to have to hit homers to have any runs scoring in scenarios like that. They pitched very well. I mean, they pitched super well and we didn’t.”
The Cost of One-Dimensional Offense
Throughout their playoff campaign, which included a Wild Card Series victory over the San Diego Padres, nearly 70% of the Cubs’ runs originated from home runs. While this power surge was often thrilling, it also highlighted a vulnerability: a lack of consistent situational hitting and an inability to manufacture runs without relying on the big blast. In the NLDS alone, the Cubs managed only six runs after the first inning across all five games, a glaring statistic that underscored their struggle to build rallies.
Against the Brewers, this one-dimensional approach became a fatal flaw. They went a dismal 4 for 27 with runners in scoring position in the series. While fans often cherish the dramatic home run, the underlying data suggests that a more balanced offensive attack might have provided greater resilience when facing elite pitching. This reliance on the long ball, while exciting, proved insufficient against Milwaukee’s deep bullpen.
Milwaukee’s Masterful Pitching Strategy
The Brewers’ pitching staff executed a game plan designed to neutralize the Cubs’ early aggression. After the Cubs had scored 11 first-inning runs in the first four games of the series, Milwaukee responded by deploying All-Star closer Trevor Megill as an opener in Game 5. Megill retired the side in order in the first inning, effectively stifling the Cubs’ usual momentum at Wrigley Field and setting a defensive tone for the entire game.
Following a solo home run by William Contreras off Drew Pomerantz in the bottom of the first, the Cubs briefly tied the game in the second when Seiya Suzuki launched a leadoff homer off Jacob Misiorowski. Suzuki’s blast, a 101.4 mph fastball sent deep into the bullpen, tied a postseason record for the fastest pitch hit for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008. However, this proved to be the Cubs’ only other offensive highlight, as they failed to score again.
A combination of Brewers pitchers—Megill, Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and Abner Uribe—combined to allow only four hits and one walk after Suzuki’s homer. Counsell praised their formidable opponent’s strength, noting, “This (Brewers) team is loaded with very good pitching. It’s certainly a strength of the team. And it’s why they’ve won so many games. Misiorowski got four innings and got 12 outs for them, and that put the game in pretty good order for them. They pitched well. They did.”
The Missed Opportunity in the Sixth
After Andrew Vaughn’s solo homer put the Brewers ahead 2-1 in the fourth, the Cubs had one crucial chance to rally in the sixth inning. The Brewers, potentially feeling the fatigue from a strenuous series, brought in Aaron Ashby, who had thrown 32 pitches just two nights earlier in Game 4. This presented a glimmer of hope for the Cubs’ lineup.
Michael Busch led off with a single, and Nico Hoerner was hit by a pitch, placing runners on first and second with nobody out. The stage was set for the middle of the lineup to break through. However, Ashby struck out Kyle Tucker, and then Chad Patrick retired Suzuki on a deep fly to left field before striking out Ian Happ, effectively slamming the door shut on the Cubs’ best scoring threat.
Counsell pinpointed this moment as the turning point: “That was the inning. That was the inning with the middle of the lineup up. Ashby made a pretty darned good pitch, 3-2 to Tucker. Looked like right down and away on the corner. It was a nasty pitch. Seiya had a good at-bat against Patrick for sure, had good at-bats all night, Seiya did. And then they got out of it, essentially.” First baseman Michael Busch also acknowledged the Brewers’ strong performance, stating, “A couple of balls didn’t go our way. Give a little credit to the Brewers. They pitched really well.”
A Season to Remember, Despite the Sting
The loss in Game 5 ended a season that Counsell believed saw his team “do a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform.” The Cubs finished with a commendable 92-70 record, marking their first season with over 90 wins since 2018. They also reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020, demonstrating significant progress and resilience throughout the year.
Their journey through this postseason was marked by grit, including winning three elimination games at home. However, their valiant attempt to become the 11th team in MLB history to erase a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees against Cleveland in their 2017 ALDS, ultimately fell short. While the sting of elimination is undeniable, the team’s performance signals a strong foundation for future success, as highlighted in postseason recaps on MLB.com.
Reliever Andrew Kittredge captured the mixed emotions of the clubhouse: “When you look back on the body of work this year, there’s a lot to be proud of. It’s always tough to get eliminated. There’s only one team that wins it at the end of the year. There really aren’t any moral victories either in this game. It stings, and it’s going to sting.” For the dedicated Cubs faithful, this season offered plenty of reasons for optimism, even as the NLDS exit leaves a lingering question: how can the team evolve its offense to be more adaptable and less reliant on the heroic home run?
