**Brewers manager Pat Murphy** delivered a sharp message about the NL Central race, pushing back hard against anyone calling the Cubs underdogs in this division fight.
Pat Murphy does not like the narrative that the Cubs are the underdogs in the NL Central race pic.twitter.com/O6moOuA2dh
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 18, 2025
“They have all-stars, MVP candidates, veterans, gold-glove winners, world champions,” Murphy said. “What don’t they have? They’re not the underdogs, trust me.”
It’s a fair point when you look at Chicago’s roster construction. This isn’t some scrappy group of no-names fighting for respect.
Milwaukee’s sitting pretty right now with a **nine-game division lead** heading into the second game of their doubleheader. The way they’ve put together this run has been something to watch – their pitching staff’s locked in, the defense has been rock solid, and they’re getting hits when it matters most.
What makes this surge more impressive is how it’s completely flipped the early season narrative. Remember when people questioned Milwaukee’s depth? Those voices have gotten awfully quiet.
The Cubs, meanwhile, have hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. Where they looked like division favorites not too long ago, they’re now chasing Milwaukee and trying to figure out what went wrong.
Their offense has gone cold just when the games started mattering more. That’s baseball for you – momentum can shift in a hurry, and Chicago’s feeling that reality right now.
But here’s the thing Murphy’s getting at: Chicago’s still very much in this race. They’re holding down a wild-card spot and have the talent to make noise if they can get things clicking again. The question isn’t whether they *can* turn it around – it’s whether they *will*.
From where I’m sitting, both teams know how quickly things change in this game. Milwaukee’s riding high, but they’ve seen enough baseball to know leads can disappear. Chicago’s facing pressure, but they’ve got the pieces to make a run.
That’s what makes Murphy’s comments smart. He’s not about to let his guys think this division’s wrapped up, and he’s certainly not giving the Cubs any bulletin board material by treating them like some underdog story.
The Cubs have proven players, proven talent, and proven experience. What they need now is to prove they can put it all together when it counts most.
