The atmosphere around Wrigley Field on Monday will carry an unmistakable charge, a blend of tension and profound significance as the Chicago Cubs open a crucial five-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. This is not just another divisional matchup; it is a crossroads that will profoundly influence the Cubs’ chance of making the playoffs.
It is in this moment of high-stakes baseball that the mind is drawn back to a September showdown, one from 2003, where the Cubs faced their archrivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, in a series that was similarly critical. Comparing these two moments in time reveals a fascinating narrative about what truly constitutes an “important” series in a pennant race.
A Battle Against A Juggernaut
The stage for the upcoming series is set against a backdrop of Milwaukee’s near-historic dominance. The Brewers currently hold the best record in all of baseball and have built a massive lead over the second-place Cubs in the National League Central standings. This gap tells the story of how the division race has shifted dramatically since the trade deadline.
While the Cubs sat atop the NL Central for a considerable portion of the season, the Brewers have embarked on an unprecedented run, including a 14-game winning streak which ended seems like it will never end and has been described by some as magical.
The narrative of the 2025 Cubs is one of a team that has hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. The club has lost three consecutive series for the first time this season, a direct result of a sputtering offense. Over the last month, the Cubs’ bats have been particularly cold, with the team tied for the second-least RBIs in the entire league over that span.
The pressure is squarely on key hitters like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker to snap out of their collective slump and give the pitching staff some much-needed run support. In a fascinating contradiction, the Cubs’ pitching staff has been holding its own, posting an 11th-best 4.06 ERA over the last month. The series is as much about winning the division, even though that ship has likely sailed, as it is about the Wild Card race.
The real battle for the Cubs has shifted from the division to securing the top Wild Card spot in the National League. Currently, the Cubs’ 69-53 record gives them a 4.5-game lead for that position, but the Mets and Reds are close behind. A poor showing against the Brewers could rapidly shrink that margin and force the Cubs to look over their shoulder for the remainder of the season.
Echoes Of The 2003 September Scramble
To fully appreciate the present, one must look back at a different Season. On September 1, 2003, the Cubs found themselves in a tense three-way dogfight for the NL Central title. The St. Louis Cardinals had a slim lead while the Cubs were breathing down their neck. The stakes were clear and direct: the winner of the series was likely to earn a ticket to the postseason.
The five-game series against the Cardinals proved to be a pivotal moment of the season. In the first game on September 1st, the Cubs didn’t just win; they delivered a resounding statement. They shut out the Cardinals 7-0 in a masterful performance.
The star of the day was pitcher Mark Prior, who was in the midst of a spectacular season. He pitched eight innings of dominant baseball, allowing just five hits and striking out eight Cardinals batters to earn his 14th win of the season. The Cubs’ offense also came alive, pounding out 17 hits, including a home run from Eric Karros, to overwhelm the Cardinals.
The significance of that series is illuminated by the final standings of the 2003 season. The Cubs finished the year with an 88-74 record, just one game ahead of the Houston Astros and three games ahead of the Cardinals. That five-game series was not merely a momentum-builder; it was a statistically decisive event that directly contributed to their division title.
Two Different Kinds Of Importance
The series which starts on Monday against the Brewers and the historical showdown with the Cardinals are united by their immense importance, yet they are separated by the very nature of what is at stake. The 2003 series was about seizing a tangible prize—the division crown—in a direct, head-to-head confrontation. The 2025 series, on the other hand, is about something more complex and less concrete: it’s a battle to cling to an identity and secure an advantageous position.
Here’s the thing, folks: The pressure on the 2003 Cubs was external and focused on a clear objective: win the division. The pressure on the 2025 Cubs is a dual-pronged crisis, a struggle with a dominant external rival coupled with a profound internal crisis of confidence stemming from their recent offensive struggles.
With that… In 2003, the Cubs were trying to create separation in a tight race. The 2025 team, however, is fighting to prevent a larger separation from the Brewers and to hold off the Wild Card contenders nipping at their heels.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!