The Cubs lost 6-2 to the Brewers on July 29 after a 6th-inning collapse. Despite a Pete Crow-Armstrong HR, the loss tightens the NL Central race to one game.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that started with a bang and ended with a whimper. After Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a leadoff home run, the Cubs looked poised to take command against their division rivals. But a disastrous sixth inning saw the Milwaukee Brewers storm back, handing Chicago a 6-2 loss and tightening the screws on an already white-knuckle NL Central race.
'Tough loss, but we’ll bounce back tomorrow.' - Pete Crow-Armstrong
The Cubs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong's solo shot and a sharp RBI double from Seiya Suzuki, who continues to swing a hot bat. Starter Justin Steele looked solid through five innings, but the wheels came off in the sixth. A four-run rally by the Brewers, capped by a two-run double from Christian Yelich, flipped the game on its head. Steele finished with a tough line of 5.1 innings and four earned runs, a frustrating end to what began as a strong outing.
Tuesday's loss stings a little more given the stakes. The Cubs now sit at 62-44, a single game behind the 63-43 Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central. With this crucial five-game series now tied 2-2, the next two contests at American Family Field feel less like regular season games and more like a playoff preview. Every pitch, every at-bat is magnified as the two rivals battle for control of the division.
This loss serves as a stark reminder of the team's needs as the trade deadline approaches. While no deals were made today, the front office is known to be hunting for bullpen reinforcements and another left-handed bat. The team's deep farm system, featuring seven Top 100 prospects like Owen Caissie (18 HRs at Triple-A) and Moisés Ballesteros, gives them the ammunition to make a significant move. The question is no longer if the Cubs will make a deal, but when and for who.
All eyes now turn to Wednesday's game. It's a chance for the Cubs to immediately erase the sting of this loss, reclaim a share of the division lead, and build momentum heading into the final hours before the trade deadline. A bounce-back performance isn't just hoped for; it feels necessary.
