Brewers-Cubs Race for NL Central Takes Major Turn

The Milwaukee Brewers are right where they want to be with fiver weeks left.

Aug 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Jake Bauers (9) reacts after hitting a two run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Just over one week ago, it seemed like things were about to get interesting in the National League Central standings down the stretch.

Milwaukee was swept in a three-game series by the San Diego Padres from Aug. 10 through Aug. 12. At that point, the Chicago Cubs were red-hot and closing in on the Brewers in the standings. But things have certainly shifted back in Milwaukee's favor.

Since the Padres series, the Brewers have gone 7-2. What has made this run even better is the fact that Milwaukee is beating its competition for the top spot in the National League. The Brewers took three out of four games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. On top of this, the Brewers won the first two games of their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves with the finale set for Sunday.

The Brewers Are In The Driver's Seat

Aug 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (00) during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Milwaukee is trending up, whereas the Cubs are trending down. Chicago has lost three straight, including a heartbreaking walk-off loss against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Randy Arozarena stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Mariners losing by one run. Arozarena blasted a two-run, walk-off homer to put Seattle over the top.

LEADOFF HOMER ➡️ WALK-OFF HOMER

RANDY AROZARENA WINS IT FOR THE @MARINERS! pic.twitter.com/iCYCRYwo4u

— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2026

In the process, the Mariners dropped Chicago's record to 74-56. The Brewers, on the other hand, are 81-49 on the season.

The Brewers now have a comfortable seven-game lead over the Cubs in the standings. This is the Brewers' largest lead in the division since July 26, per Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920.

"The Brewers lead the NL Central by 7 games for the first time since July 26th," Baumgardt wrote. "The Cubs were up 4-2 with 2 outs in the 9th inning tonight, but lost."

The Brewers lead the NL Central by 7 games for the first time since July 26th.

The Cubs were up 4-2 with 2 outs in the 9th inning tonight, but lost. pic.twitter.com/85F8N3nx21

— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) August 23, 2026

The Cubs were able to make things interesting for a few days. Chicago got Milwaukee's lead in the division down under five games, but now it's at its highest mark in about a month.

But now Milwaukee's lead looks pretty safe with about five weeks to go in the 2026 MLB season. Now, of course, nothing is set in stone yet. The Brewers and Cubs will face off in two more series against one another before the season comes to a close. While this is the case, barring a collapse, the Brewers are in the driver's seat and have a very good chance of winning their fourth straight National League Central title.

Milwaukee went through a little rut earlier in August, and that made things interesting in the standings for a few days. Now, it's all Milwaukee.