The lights will burn bright over Wrigley Field on Wednesday evening as the Chicago Cubs fight to keep their season alive. Down 0–2 in the NLDS, the North Siders send Jameson Taillon to the mound, hoping the veteran right-hander can extend the series against the surging Milwaukee Brewers, who counter with breakout star Quinn Priester.
Milwaukee’s pitching has smothered Chicago’s bats so far, winning both games at home with late-inning poise and opportunistic hitting. But the postseason atmosphere at Wrigley is unmatched — a sea of blue, the wind howling in from Lake Michigan, and an entire fanbase refusing to accept a sweep on their own turf.
With first pitch scheduled for 5:08 p.m. ET on truTV, TBS, and HBO Max, Game 3 promises the classic playoff blend of tension, strategy, and raw emotion.
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📺 Where To Watch Brewers vs. Cubs NLDS Game 3? (October 8, 2025)
| Platform | Channel/Stream | Time (ET) | Venue |
| National Broadcast | truTV, TBS | 5:08 p.m. | Wrigley Field, Chicago IL |
| Streaming | HBO Max | 5:08 p.m. | — |
💰 Latest Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total (O/U) |
| Cubs | -122 | -1.5 (+180) | 6.5 Runs (-118 O / -103 U) |
| Brewers | +102 | +1.5 (-221) | — |
(Odds via multiple sportsbooks as of Oct 8 — subject to change.)
🔢 Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | Team | W-L | ERA | IP | K | BB | WHIP | Last Start |
| Jameson Taillon (R) | Cubs | 11-7 | 3.68 | 129.2 | 98 | 27 | 1.18 | Oct 2 vs SD: 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H |
| Quinn Priester (R) | Brewers | 13-3 | 3.32 | 157.1 | 132 | 50 | 1.24 | Sept 27 vs CIN: 5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H |
Taillon: The 33-year-old has quietly been the Cubs’ steadiest arm in the second half, holding opponents to a .225 AVG. He thrives at Wrigley, where he leans on first-pitch strikes and soft contact to pitch deep into games.
Priester: One of Milwaukee’s revelations in 2025, Priester owns a 2.64 K/BB ratio and nine quality starts in 24 tries. His mix of sinker-curveball has neutralized power lineups, but this will be his biggest test — the raucous Wrigley crowd in a closeout scenario.
📊 Team Form & Stats
Chicago Cubs
- Season Record (Fav): 76-43 (63.9%)
- AVG/SLG: .249 / .430 (6th in MLB)
- Team ERA: 3.80 (8th)
- WHIP: 1.178 (1st in MLB)
- Last 10 Games: 6-4 • 4.8 R/G • 21 HR • 3.27 ERA
Chicago’s offense has been homer-heavy but streaky — they’ve hit 21 homers in 10 games yet gone quiet in clutch moments this series. Still, with Kyle Tucker, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki in the heart of the order, they have the tools to produce against a right-hander like Priester.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Season Record (Underdog): 36-28 (56.2%)
- AVG/SLG: .258 / .403 (12th)
- Runs Per Game: 5.0 (3rd in MLB)
- Team ERA: 3.59 (2nd in MLB)
- Last 10 Games: 5-5 • 3.6 R/G • 2.90 ERA
Milwaukee’s strength is still its pitching depth. The bullpen (68% save rate, 4th in MLB) has closed the door repeatedly in high-leverage innings. Offensively, Christian Yelich and William Contreras continue to set the tone — and if Jackson Chourio or Brice Turang can stay hot, the sweep becomes very real.
⚔️ Key Player Matchups
| Batter | vs RHP AVG | HR / RBI | Trend |
| Kyle Tucker (CHC) | .266 | 22 HR / 87 RBI | Multi-hit threat in 3 straight |
| Nico Hoerner (CHC) | .297 | 7 HR / 61 RBI | 6-game hit streak |
| Christian Yelich (MIL) | .284 | 29 HR / 103 RBI | Quiet G2 but 13 HR off RHP |
| William Contreras (MIL) | .260 | 17 HR / 84 BB | Excellent OBP weapon |
📈 Betting Trends
| Category | Brewers | Cubs |
| Record Last 10 | 5-5 | 6-4 |
| Runs Per Game | 3.6 | 4.8 |
| Over Record Last 10 | 4-6 | 6-4 |
| Underdog Wins 2025 | 36 | — |
| Favorite Wins 2025 | — | 76 |
- Under is 8-2 in Milwaukee’s last 10 road games.
- Cubs 5-2 ATS last 7 home games.
- Brewers 10-3 SU in their last 13 vs CHC.
🎯 Prop Bets to Watch
| Player | Market | Line | Lean |
| Nico Hoerner (CHC) | Hits O/U | 0.5 (-260) | ✅ Over — pure contact bat |
| Kyle Tucker (CHC) | RBI O/U | 0.5 (+205) | ✅ Over — lineup leverage |
| Jameson Taillon (CHC) | Outs O/U | 17.5 | ✅ Over — efficiency vs righty lineups |
| Christian Yelich (MIL) | Total Bases O/U | 1.5 (+135) | ⚠️ Lean Over — hot vs fastballs |
| Quinn Priester (MIL) | K’s O/U | 4.5 | ❌ Under — Cubs work counts |
💵 Same-Game Parlay (Conservative Build)
| Leg | Pick | Odds |
| Cubs +1.5 | — | — |
| Total Under 8.5 (alternate) | — | — |
| Nico Hoerner 1+ Hit | — | — |
| Projected Return: +200 to +240 (depending on book). |
🔍 Game Breakdown
Chicago’s bats must wake up early. Through two games, they’ve stranded 17 runners and gone 3-for-18 with RISP. Taillon’s rhythm-first approach gives them a real shot — he’s allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five starts, while Priester hasn’t pitched in two weeks and may show early rust.
If Taillon navigates the first three innings clean, look for the Cubs’ bullpen (1.18 WHIP) to bridge it to Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather. Milwaukee’s late-inning arms remain dangerous, but the Cubs’ desperation edge could flip the script.
🏁 ClutchBuzz Final Brewers vs. Cubs Prediction
| Market | Pick |
| Moneyline | ✅ Cubs -115 |
| Total | ✅ Under 7 Runs |
| Score Prediction | Cubs 4 – Brewers 3 |
Analysis: Wrigley energy + Taillon’s home composure = survival mode for Chicago. Milwaukee’s pitching depth keeps it close, but expect the Cubs to scratch out enough offense to extend the series to Game 4.
