2025 MLB Predictions: Cubs, Brewers Head NL Central Playoff Picks

The Cubs, after two straight seasons of coming up short, have gone all-in to ensure a return to October baseball. Meanwhile, the Brewers, the division’s most consistent team over the past decade, are once again proving that small-market savvy can still produce big results.

Both teams have distinct paths to the postseason, but when the dust settles, our MLB playoff predictions expect them to be playing beyond 162 games.

2 NL Central Playoff Predictions

1. Chicago Cubs (-170): All-In Approach to End Postseason Drought

The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, and after missing the postseason for three straight full seasons, the front office had seen enough. They made MLB news with one of the biggest splashes of the offseason, trading for Kyle Tucker, an MVP-caliber bat, to anchor their lineup. And they didn’t stop there.

They completely retooled their bullpen, adding Ryan Pressly, Ryan Brasier and Caleb Thielbar, and bolstered their rotation with Colin Rea and Matthew Boyd. The pieces are in place for this team to contend, but the key question remains: Will the offense catch up to the pitching?

Chicago’s rotation was one of the best in the National League last season, finishing third in team ERA, per MLB betting trends. Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele give them a reliable one-two punch while Rea and Boyd provide much-needed depth. If Brandon Woodruff (who missed 2024) returns to form, this unit could be one of the deepest in the NL.

Offensively, it starts with Tucker, but the Cubs will need Dansby Swanson to rebound after slugging under .400 last season. They’re also banking on Seiya Suzuki taking another step forward—his wRC+ has improved each of his three MLB seasons—while Pete Crow-Armstrong has the potential to be a game-changer in center field.

With Tucker, Suzuki, Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ, this lineup has enough firepower to support its elite pitching. If they find consistency at the plate, expect the Cubs to not only return to the postseason but be a dangerous Wild Card team for online betting.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (+105): NL Central’s Most Reliable Team

Every year, the Brewers are doubted. Every year, they prove the doubters wrong. Despite losing Willy Adames (Giants) and Devin Williams (Yankees) during the offseason, Milwaukee still has the deepest roster in the division.

They have three NL Central titles in the last four years and have made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. No other team in this division comes close to that consistency, which is why it’s surprising the Brewers are +105 in MLB futures betting.

Milwaukee’s success starts with pitching and defense. Freddy Peralta headlines a staff that also features Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, and Tobias Myers. Peralta has back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons, but the X-factor will be Brandon Woodruff. If he’s anywhere close to his All-Star form post-shoulder surgery, this rotation could dominate.

In the bullpen, Trevor Megill is the next in a long line of elite Brewers closers, stepping in for Williams after converting 20 of 22 save opportunities last year. Milwaukee’s bullpen is built on reclamation projects, and Joel Payamps, Nick Mears and Jared Koenig all fit that mold.

On offense, the Brewers are betting big on their young stars. Jackson Chourio, their $82 million rookie, was one of the best players in the league in September and October last season, flashing 20-HR, 20-SB potential. He is +3300 in MLB MVP odds.

Former NL MVP Christian Yelich, when healthy, was still an elite hitter last year (.315 BA, .909 OPS), and Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell and Rhys Hoskins round out a sneaky-deep lineup.

With elite run prevention and a lineup built on speed and power, Milwaukee is once again a playoff lock. Whether they win the division or settle for a Wild Card spot, the Brewers will be there in October.

MLB Predictions: AL Central Sends Two Teams to the Playoffs

• The Cubs have made all the right moves.
• The Brewers continue to defy expectations. One way or another, both teams should live up to their MLB odds and find their way into the postseason.

The question is: Will the Cubs’ bold roster overhaul be enough to dethrone Milwaukee? Or will the Brewers’ proven formula of pitching, defense, and development keep them on top of the division?

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.

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