MLB Baseball
2025-10-04 - Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : MLB Baseball Playoff Divisional Series Game 1
Saturday 4th October 2025 - Scheduled 2:08pm
7:08pm (British Time)
Preview
For the first time since 2017, the Chicago Cubs were able to win a Playoff Series and that means Manager Craig Counsell will renew his rivalry with former team Milwaukee Brewers in the Divisional Round of the 2025 post-season.
There is no love lost between the two National League Central rivals with the Milwaukee Brewers finishing up with the Number 1 Seed in the National League and leaving Chicago Cubs to fight through the Wild Card Series.
It was an important win for the Cubs over the San Diego Padres and the fans have to really be excited by what they saw from the team. However, there is always room for improvement and for the Cubs that means needing a bit more Offensive output to back up what has been an improved bullpen and stellar Defensive work in the field.
The Number 1 Seed in the National League had lost three years in a row in the Divisional Round, but the Los Angeles Dodgers bucked that trend last season. The Milwaukee Brewers did lose the regular season 7-6 to the Chicago Cubs, and they had lost three in a row to this Divisional rival before taking the last of those regular season games last month.
The Brewers are expected to give the ball to Freddy Peralta to open this Divisional Round Series who had a very strong regular season and finished with a 2.70 ERA and a 17-6 record. He also threw in the Playoff last season in the Wild Card Round, but Peralta gave up three runs in 4 Innings thrown in the only start made.
He only allowed more than a single earned run in two of his last ten starts, while only one of those outings ended with Peralta being saddled with more than two earned runs.
Freddy Peralta did have mixed success against the Chicago Cubs in four starts this season- in half of those he did not give up a run, but he allowed eight earned runs in 9 Innings across the other two outings.
With a batting lineup that is not that adept at putting the ball out of the park, Freddy Peralta is going to need to find a way to contain this Cubs team and give the Milwaukee Brewers the best opportunity to win Game 1.
Colin Rea is the pitcher expected to get the call to open this game for the Chicago Cubs, and he has already pitched in relief during this post-season. That is the sole experience Rea has in the Playoff environment so a potential start is going to be a different test, although the Cubs bullpen have played at a solid level and will be willing to step in as early as needed.
The veteran pitcher had an 11-7 record and 3.95 ERA in the regular season and he had a solid September, which will give the Cubs confidence. Colin Rea had a 1-1 record against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed six runs in a little under 10 Innings thrown against them across two starts.
Prediction
The old adage about the Major League post-season is that you have to be able to hit Home Runs to win games and that is simply because stringing hits together is very difficult with the loaded bullpens faced.
Despite looking like the best team in the Major League during the regular season, there is a feeling that someone will be able to outhit the Milwaukee Brewers in a Playoff Series.
Some will think the Chicago Cubs can do that having won seven of thirteen games against this Divisional rival in the regular season. They are also capable Defensively and the Cubs bullpen impressed in the Wild Card win over the San Diego Padres, while there is more rhythm compared with a Brewers team that have not played since last Sunday.
However, it is Freddy Peralta going to the mound and Milwaukee's top pitcher can set them up for a win in Game 1 of this best of five Series.
The Cubs will be confident in Colin Rea, if he gets the call, but the Brewers may find enough hits to secure an opening win.
The Pick :
Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Chicago Cubs
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Milwaukee Brewers to Win at -151 with Bookmaker.eu
