How Can the Cubs Take the NL Central from the Brewers in 2026?
In the last three MLB seasons, the Chicago Cubs have finished in second place in the NL Central. In each of those seasons, the team ahead of them has been the same rival across the northern border, the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee has had a chokehold on the division for the past five years, finishing at the top of the standings four times and in second place once. 2025 seemed like it would finally be the Cubs’ turn at the top, but not only did they finish behind the Brewers in the standings, but they also lost to them in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Questions continue to surround what has prevented the Cubs from capturing a division title and what has consistently propelled the Brewers to the top of the standings. The answer centers on pitching. For years, Milwaukee has built its identity around a dominant pitching staff, featuring depth and star power throughout both the starting rotation and bullpen. Last season, the Brewers finished among the top five teams in Major League Baseball in ERA, wins, hits allowed, and strikeouts. Chicago, by comparison, has struggled to find sustained consistency on the mound due to a combination of declining production and numerous injuries.
An improved pitching staff remains the clearest path for the Cubs to close the gap in this divisional rivalry. The organization took a step in the right direction by acquiring right-hander Edward Cabrera via a trade with the Marlins in January, which should certainly improve the starting rotation. However, the team’s bullpen is still a glaring flaw, with little to write home about outside of closer Daniel Palencia, who earned 22 saves last season, which was top 10 in the National League. Ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, the team added Michael Soroka and Andrew Kittredge to their bullpen, but these were both short-term answers, as both players have since found their way onto other rosters. If the Cubs fail to show meaningful early-season improvement on the mound, particularly in the bullpen, the front office is likely to take a more aggressive approach in the trade market this season than it did a year ago.
