Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Prediction, Game 5, for Saturday, October 11, 2025
In our Cubs vs. Brewers prediction, the Chicago Cubs were able to win Game 4 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers to force this winner-takes-all Game 5 in the NLDS. They will send left-hander Shota Imanaga to the mound, and he appeared in Game 2 of this series in a loss as he threw 2.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with zero walks and three strikeouts.
The Milwaukee Brewers had a 2-0 NLDS lead, but are now in a winner-takes-all Game 5 of the series after losing the two games in Chicago. Rookie righty Jacob Misiorowski will be taking the mound in Game 2 of the series, as he came out of the bullpen and allowed zero runs on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts in three innings to record the victory.
Dial in your read with MLB picks for the Chicago Cubs vs. the Milwaukee Brewers before first pitch.
Cubs Looking to Steal NLDS
The Chicago Cubs are looking to do a bit more at the plate as a team, as they are fifth in the bigs during the playoffs with a .234/.303/.413 team slash line while scoring 3.14 runs per game. Their lineup has shown the ability to hit for incredible power as they lead the postseason with 11 combined home runs hit. First baseman Michael Busch has been incredible at the plate in the playoffs as he is 7-for-24 with four home runs, four RBI, four runs scored, and a 2:4 walk-to-strikeout ratio in seven games thus far.
Shota Imanaga’s Baseball Savant page has him pitching poorly as he is in the sixth percentile in barrel percentage, 11th percentile in average exit velocity, 24th percentile in hard hit percentage, and 34th percentile in strikeout percentage. He has a six-pitch arsenal (fastball, splitter, sweeper, curveball, sinker, slider), and his sweeper has been his best pitch as hitters have a .153 batting average and .208 slugging percentage with zero home runs and 30 strikeouts against it. Imanaga faced the Brewers four times in the regular season and playoffs, as he has gone 1-3 in 20.1 innings and gave up 11 runs on 17 hits with three walks and 20 strikeouts.
Injury Report for Chicago
- Pitcher Cade Horton: Ribs (OUT)
- Right fielder Owen Caissie: Concussion (OUT)
- Pitcher Ryan Braiser: Groin (OUT)
- Catcher Miguel Amaya: Ankle (OUT)
- Pitcher Justin Steele: Elbow (OUT)
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Brewers Trying to Keep the Season Alive
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to continue hitting well as the team is third in the majors this postseason with a .738 team OPS while averaging 4.75 runs per game. Their lineup has been getting hits on a regular basis as they are second in the MLB Playoffs with a .260 team batting average. Catcher William Contreras has swung the bat well, as he is 5-for-16 with one homer, two RBI, four runs scored, and a 1:3 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Jacob Misiorowski is in the 93rd percentile in strikeout percentage, 91st percentile in xBA, 80th percentile in whiff percentage, and 79th percentile in xERA according to his Baseball Savant page. He has four different pitches (fastball, slider, curveball, changeup), and his fastball has been his best pitch as hitters have a .193 batting average and .312 slugging percentage with three home runs and 45 strikeouts. Misiorowski faced the Cubs three times (two starts) in the regular season/playoffs and is 1-1 in 11.0 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits with seven walks and 16 strikeouts.
Injury Report for Milwaukee
- Catcher William Contreras: Hand (Questionable)
- Pitcher Brandon Woodruff: Lat (OUT)
- Pitcher Jose Quintana: Calf (OUT)
- Pitcher Shelby Miller: Elbow (OUT)
- Pitcher Logan Henderson: Elbow (OUT)
- Pitcher Jordan Montgomery: Elbow (OUT)
- Center fielder Garrett Mitchell: Oblique (OUT)
- Pitcher Connor Thomas: Elbow (OUT)
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Pick
Spread Pick for Cubs vs. Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers -145 (5 units)
The home team has won the first four games of this series, so home-field advantage is certainly a thing here and the Milwaukee Brewers should be able to secure the victory. There is a significant gap with the ability to hit with runners in scoring position this postseason, as Milwaukee is first with a 1.028 team OPS in those chances while Chicago is 11th of 12 teams with a .610 team OPS with runners in scoring position. Jacob Misiorowski has looked a lot more composed towards the end of the regular season and into the postseason than Shota Imanaga and the Milwaukee Brewers are the better team, so go with the Milwaukee Brewers to record a win here and move on to the NLCS.
Over/Under Pick for Cubs vs. Brewers
- UNDER (4 units)
Shota Imanaga and Jacob Misiorowski are going to be in a position where they are going to be pulled at the first sign of struggles, as the entire team needs to make sure there is not a crooked inning against them. With the day off on Friday, these bullpens had a chance to rest up ahead of this game as well. The bullpens are doing an incredible job in the playoffs thus far as Chicago is fourth with a 2.27 reliever ERA, while Milwaukee is second with only a 1.23 bullpen ERA so far. All in all, go with the UNDER as the best bet for this game.
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