MILWAUKEE — Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell appreciates everything that comes with a great rivalry.
Between his six seasons in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform and then nine years managing the team and now in his second season on the North Side, Counsell has been part of both sides of an intense rivalry that will go to new level this weekend in the National League Division Series. The Cubs and Brewers have never met in the postseason — until now.
The regular-season matchups have provided plenty of fireworks and crowd energy over the years. That is expected to go to another level Saturday for Game 1 at American Family Field. Left-hander Matthew Boyd gets the ball on short rest for the Cubs, and the Brewers start right-hander Freddy Peralta.
“These are two cities that are close together, very close,” Counsell said before the Cubs workout Friday. “I think each city’s residents have thoughts about each other’s residents.
“Harmless, obviously,” Counsell added with a smile.
“But yeah the proximity of the cities makes it fun, no doubt about it, and the proximity makes rivalries, too, and teams being good makes rivalries.”
Each team will be without a key starting pitcher for the NLDS.
The Brewers ruled out Brandon Woodruff because of a lat strain while Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton is not far enough along in his recovery from a right rib fracture to be active for the series. Horton is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list before Game 5 in the NLDS, but Counsell already ruled out that possibility. Horton has been throwing on flat ground, but the team has not yet determined when he might throw off a mound. If the Cubs advance, any possibility of Horton returning would involve pitching in shorter, non-bulk outings.
“We’re encouraging healing right now, so we’re not doing anything that would cause pain,” Counsell said. “We haven’t pushed him to a place that we would test that.”
The Cubs are coming off an intense three-game series against the San Diego Padres for a showdown with a rested Brewers squad that posted the best record in the majors this year. The regular season featured two evenly matched teams. The Cubs won the season series 7-6 and outscored the Brewers 60-56. It would not be a surprise to see the NLDS played out to Game 5.
The Cubs are riding an emotional win Thursday into Saturday’s opener. Playing three consecutive days forced Counsell to push some of his relievers. More built-in off days during the division series could help the Cubs with how they manage their pitching staff, especially their high-leverage relievers.
“There’s three off days in the series, that’s significantly different, I think it’s going to create a little bit of a different feel to the series,” Counsell said. “Look, three games and five games, man, in terms of win three or win two, that’s not a big difference. So it means the gas pedal is down immediately for everybody. I don’t think that’s going to change at all.”
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio watched the last several innings of the Cubs’ Game 3 win Thursday over the Padres with former MLB Commissioner and team founder Bud Selig.
“You’re having a mixed emotion, right, because we’re so used to hoping that the Cubs don’t win, obviously, and likewise, I’m sure they feel that way about us,” Attanasio said Friday. “Yet this is a great matchup for our fans and all the fans of baseball. These playoffs, National League, you have the four teams with the most wins in it. That’s special and here you have two teams who know each other really well, so it should be great baseball.”
Brewers fans have been relentless the last two years in taking every opportunity to boo Counsell, even when he makes a pitching chance. Right-hander Colin Rea, who spent three seasons in Milwaukee — including two while Counsell was at the helm — has been amused by Brewers fans’ approach, though thought that reaction might dissipate at some point.
If that does ever occur, it certainly won’t happen Saturday with an amped, sold-out crowd.
“Look, we lost the manager that still has the most wins in our history and may forever, he did an unbelievable job here for nine seasons,” Attanasio said. “I think this community is really special in so many ways — everybody has to do what they have to do for themselves and their family.”
Originally Published: October 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM CDT