Covering the bases 8/20/2025: Cubs 4, Brewers 3

Unable to take better advantage of five walks, the Milwaukee Brewers lost their third straight, falling to the rival Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. The loss reduced the Brewers' lead over the second-place Cubs to six games in the NL Central. The Brewers are an MLB-best 79-48. The Cubs clinched the season series. Chicago leads 7-5 with the last regular-season game between these teams coming Thursday.

FIRST BASE: Late rally falls short

For a moment, it seemed like a little more magic might be happening in the ninth inning for the Brewers. Trailing 4-2 entering the top of the ninth and facing Cubs closer Daniel Palencia, Brice Turang hit a one-out single and went to second on two-out defensive indifference. Danny Jansen then lined a single off third baseman Matt Shaw that plated Turang to make it 4-3. Pinch-runner Brandon Lockridge stole second (upheld on review), then Palencia walked Isaac Collins and Sal Frelick to load the bases. That brought up William Contreras, who hit a screaming liner that was snared by second baseman Nico Hoerner to end the game.

SECOND BASE: Turang stays hot

Turang is making a bid for the Brewers to have their second straight NL Player of the Month. After Collins took the honor in July, Turang continued his hot stretch by going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Over his last eight games, Turang is 11-for-26 (.423) with six RBIs and four runs scored. In August, Turang is slashing .328/.368/.734 with seven of his career-high 13 homers. His previous season best for homers was eight, set last year.

THIRD BASE: More Miz struggles

Rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski hasn't found a rhythm yet in his two starts back from the injured list following a bruised shin. The good news is that Misiorowski allowed just one hit over four innings. The bad news is that he walked three – again all in the same inning – and allowed three runs, while striking out five. It was a similar scenario to his start Friday, when he only recorded four outs vs. the Cincinnati Reds. Against the Cubs, Misioroski needed 40 pitches to make it through the third inning and finished with 78. The three consecutive walks came to open the third inning and set up Michael Busch's three-run double.

HOME PLATE: Looking in the mirror

For a team that scored in double digits three times during a 14-game winning streak, with a low of three runs (twice), the Brewers were due for a market correction offensively. And some of that could be that the Crew has come up against a team that is nearly as fundamentally sound as it they are. Without the extra chances provided by other foes this month, the Brewers have been limited in these last three games by the Cubs to a grand total of eight runs.

EXTRA BASES: Priester goes in finale

⚾ Right-hander Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.48 ERA) looks to extend his unbeaten streak for the Brewers when he faces Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.06 ERA) in the finale of the five-game series. Priester has won his last 10 decisions, but hasn't extended that streak in his last two starts while the team did win those games. His last start came in the 6-5, 11-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds for the record-breaking 14th straight Brewers win. Priester allowed six hits and a walk while striking out five in 5⅓ innings. Imanaga went seven innings in his previous outing, a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Imanaga allowed just one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out six.

⚾ The Brewers returned right-handed starter Chad Patrick to Triple-A Nashville following Tuesday's doubleheader. They also swapped out long relievers with Tobias Myers going back to Nashville and fellow right-hander Carlos Rodriguez coming up for his 2025 MLB debut.