Cubs to receive an important reinforcement ahead of five-game series with the Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have been on a tear, ripping through August and putting serious distance between themselves and the rest of the NL Central. Entering play on August 14, their cushion over the second-place Chicago Cubs is 7.5 games, and it’s starting to feel like the gap is less a lead and more a warning sign to the rest of the league.

That’s why what’s coming next looms large. Thanks to a makeup game for a June 18 postponement, the Cubs and Brewers are about to lock horns in an ultra-rare five-game series that could swing the division race. It’s the kind of showdown that can shift momentum, or crush it entirely.

Brewers face five-game test as Cubs get Jameson Taillon back in rotation

A sweep in either direction should be unthinkable, but in reality, it’s not impossible. For the Cubs, it’s their last real shot to make a run at the division crown before the calendar turns to September. For the Brewers, it’s an opportunity to deliver another emphatic blow, one that could serve as the knockout punch in securing their first-ever three-peat as NL Central champs.

But the Cubs are about to receive a reinforcement for the battle. Veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon is on the brink of returning from injury, and the timing couldn’t be better for the North Siders.

Taillon’s 2025 campaign started off ugly, with a rough debut on March 28 (0–1, 6 ER in 4.1 innings). But he found his groove quickly, piecing together a 13-start stretch in which he posted a 2.99 ERA and a sparkling 0.919 WHIP. He looked every bit the steady veteran arm the Cubs needed.

That progress hit a speed bump on July 1 when Taillon landed on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain suffered during a bullpen session. He’s been sidelined for weeks, but his rehab with Triple-A Iowa has been sharp, most recently tossing 4.2 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts on just 60 pitches. The expectation is that he could be activated for the upcoming Brewers series, possibly even pitching in the doubleheader.

For the season, the 33-year-old is 7–6 with a 4.44 ERA over 17 starts. He’s not an ace, but he brings experience, composure, and a knack for delivering quality innings in high-pressure spots — exactly what the Cubs will need in a series where every out will matter.

And for Milwaukee? This is another chance to prove why they’ve been the class of the division all year. If they want to seal this race before the stretch run even begins, they can’t just show up; they’ve got to stand on business.