Cubs, Brewers set to clash in NLDS; local business gets in on hype

Introduction to the NLDS

The excitement is building ahead of the National League Division Series that will feature the Chicago Cubs against their division rival Milwaukee Brewers. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the series.

When will the games be played?

Here’s the full schedule for the best of five series.

• Game 1 – Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:08 p.m. at American Family Field
• Game 2 – Monday, Oct. 6 at 8:08 p.m. at American Family Field
• Game 3 – Wednesday, Oct. 8 (time TBD) at Wrigley Field
• Game 4 (if necessary) – Thursday, Oct. 9 (time TBD) at Wrigley Field
• Game 5 (if necessary) – Saturday, Oct. 11 (time TBD) at American Family Field
  All times in Central Time

Have any starting pitchers been announced?

Matthew Boyd will toe the rubber for the Cubs in Game 1 of the NLDS. The lefty started 31 regular season games for the North Siders in 2025 and finished with a 14-8 record, a 3.21 ERA and 154 strikeouts.
The Brewers, meanwhile, have named Freddy Peralta as their Game 1 starter. Peralta finished the 2025 regular season with a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts, playing a big role for the Brewers who finished the regular season with an MLB-best record of 97-65. Both the Cubs and Brewers have not named any other starting pitchers so far.

All roads lead home

Cubs manager Craig Counsell is in his second season on the North Side. He managed the Cubs to a 92-70 regular season record in 2025, a big improvement upon last year’s 83-79 campaign that ended without a trip to the postseason.
Counsell previously managed the Brewers from 2015-2023 and will likely be hearing many jeers from the American Family Field crowd. Counsell’s bench coach while in Milwaukee, Pat Murphy, was named manager of the Brewers soon after Counsell’s departure.

How we got here

Since the Cubs did not win the National League Central Division, they were forced to play in a best of three Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres, who also failed to win their respective division.
Since the Cubs had a better regular season record than the Padres, the Cubs were granted home field advantage for the entire Wild Card series.
The Cubs beat the Padres 3-1 in Game 1, lost Game 2 by a score of 3-0, and won a nail-biter of a Game 3 with a final score of 3-1.
The Brewers, meanwhile, won the National League Central Division and also finished with the best record in baseball, so they were not subject to a Wild Card round.

Food giveaway

One Wrigleyville restaurant got in on the hype and offered free lunch on Friday in celebration of the Cubs advancing to the NLDS.
Cubs fans hungry for a deep postseason run were served a free meal at Cozy Noodles n’ Rice.
The mastermind in the kitchen, known affectionately as Chef Tee, is excited to be making more food and is convinced the Cubs are going to make a run at a World Series title.
"When you talk from your heart, you don’t need a script. You don’t need anything," Chef Tee said.

Should the Cubs eliminate the Brewers and advance to the NLCS, Chef Tee said he’ll be offering free lunch again on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
He also said if he’ll be offering another free lunch if the Cubs advance to the Fall Classic.
Visit the Cozy Noodles n’ Rice website for the most up to date information.

Conclusion

The stage is set for an exciting NLDS matchup between the Cubs and Brewers. With the series schedule announced and starting pitchers named, fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the series. Local businesses, like Cozy Noodles n’ Rice, are also getting in on the hype, offering free food to celebrate the Cubs’ advancement to the NLDS.

FAQs

Q: When is Game 1 of the NLDS?
A: Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:08 p.m. at American Family Field.
Q: Who are the starting pitchers for Game 1?
A: Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs, while Freddy Peralta will start for the Brewers.
Q: How can I get free food from Cozy Noodles n’ Rice?
A: Cozy Noodles n’ Rice offered free lunch on Friday in celebration of the Cubs advancing to the NLDS. They may offer free lunch again if the Cubs advance to the NLCS or World Series. Check their website for updates.