Brewers 9, Cubs 3: Jake Bauers Blows Wrigley Open as Milwaukee Ends Chicago's Home Tear

The lead

May 18, 2026 - Chicago - The Milwaukee Brewers battered Shota Imanaga for eight runs (seven earned) spanning nine hits in less than five frames, powering a 9-3 Crosstown-ish NL Central opener that CBS Chicago and recap wires tied to Jake Bauers' slam swing and Milwaukee's creeping division math.

Bauers homered and piled up four RBI, including an RBI knock in the fourth and a bases-clearing blast in the fifth that pushed Milwaukee 8-0, matching CBS recap bullet points echoed on Bleacher Nation's enhanced box score. Christian Yelich homered again, part of Milwaukee's 13-hit outing.

How the game turned

Imanaga's worst outing of the campaign—his early hook after 4⅓ innings—allowed Brewers stacks to inhale innings. Starter Brandon Sproat worked 4⅔ with scattered runs before Shane Drohan piled 4⅓ scoreless innings for victory credit per CBS trackers.

Pitching and matchup notes

Drohan's length shielded Milwaukee's pen after Chicago threatened modestly mid-game. AthX pegged Bauers near 11 hitting FP, anchoring Milwaukee's 18 team FP, fifth-best Monday while the Cubs dipped negative on the loser ledger.

Bats that changed the board

Bauers' three-run missile turned leverage at-bats into crooked totals; Andrew Vaughn also scored twice on two-hit nights wires highlighted for balance around Yelich's continued power binge.

AthX Engine fantasy angle

Eight-run blowups against frontline starters swing team FP without requiring eye-popping strikeout totals from the winning arm. Do not equate that fantasy blowout with automatic dynamic pricing upside.

What comes next

The Brewers—9-2 in their prior 11 per CBS—closed within a half-game of Chicago's division lead while snapping a 15-game Wrigley winning streak described as Chicago's longest home heater since 1935 in game stories.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, MLB gameday wrap, CBS Sports recap, CBS Chicago, WTMJ, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*