NL Central rivals Milwaukee and Chicago collide in the NLDS, setting up a glove-driven war where outs and range trump home run swing diplomacy. Cubs’ infield leaders Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson anchor a top-tier defense, with Pete Crow-Armstrong patrolling center and contributing range. Milwaukee counters with Brice Turang, William Contreras, Joey Ortiz and Sal Frelick delivering elite play on the dirt and behind the plate. The series leans on defense, with both clubs excelling in defensive metrics and turning batted balls into outs.

Defensive metrics back the storyline: Cubs sit just behind the league leaders in defensive efficiency, fielding run value and outs above average, while Milwaukee sits solidly in the upper tier. In a best-of-five, the glove work could swing the balance in tight games, elevating pitching and situational defense as the ultimate differentiator.