The Cubs and Brewers are set to open a three-game series Monday as the top two teams in the National League.
A 5-4 victory Sunday against the White Sox in the rubber game of the series at Rate Field kept the Cubs (62-43) tied with the Brewers for the best record in the NL.
‘‘Over the course of a long year, there’s going to be ups and downs,’’ catcher Carson Kelly said in a recent conversation with the Sun-Times. ‘‘[The Brewers have] been playing really well. We focus on what we can control. And you look up at the end of the year, then we’ll see where we’re at.’’
There are still 57 games left in the season, including eight against the Brewers that could swing the battle for the top spot in the Central.
‘‘It’s a good division, competitive,’’ right-hander Colin Rea said. ‘‘From here on out, it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re going to have to come ready to play every single day, and I’m sure those teams will do the same.’’
Rea is scheduled to face his former team Tuesday. He was a member of the Brewers’ starting rotation in 2023 and 2024 and also chipped in a handful of relief appearances.
Left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz, another connecting thread between the teams, was a trade-deadline acquisition for the Brewers in 2019 and helped them secure an NL wild-card spot.
‘‘I feel like every year they’re either making a run or playing well,’’ Pomeranz said. ‘‘I’ve been a part of one of those, too. And they just have a good system for the way they pick players and piece them all together.’’
Forcing mistakes
Second baseman Nico Hoerner turned what should have been only one out into a double play to end the third inning Sunday.
With one out and runners on first and second, right-hander Ben Brown induced the Sox’ Chase Meidroth to pop up to the right side of the infield. Hoerner called off first baseman Michael Busch early and camped under the ball.
‘‘First thought was just watching the hitter, looking to maybe drop the ball and get him out, then hopefully get a double play,’’ Hoerner said. ‘‘They call infield fly, so the batter’s out.’’
The rule was instituted to keep infielders from purposely dropping pop-ups to set up an easy double play. But Hoerner, seeing the ball was short enough to land on the infield grass and sit there, tried it anyway.
‘‘My attention was definitely more so immediately on the runner right in front of me, on first,’’ Hoerner said. ‘‘But [shortstop Dansby Swanson] was yelling behind me.’’
Across the field, the Sox’ Lenyn Sosa, the runner on second, took the bait. He headed for third, and Hoerner picked up the ball and threw him out to complete the double play.
An important run
In the eighth, Hoerner proved disruptive on the bases. Caught off first when Sox catcher Edgar Quero threw behind him, Hoerner prolonged a rundown to let Ian Happ — who was on second — advance to third.
The Sox threw home to keep Happ from scoring, but he barreled into third baseman Colson Montgomery on the way back, securing an obstruction call. Happ was awarded home plate to put the Cubs ahead 5-1. It ended up being the decisive run.
‘‘It started with a mistake on my end, just getting too far off,’’ Hoerner said. ‘‘Fortunately, Ian was able to capitalize on just some chaos out there.’’