(Photo credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images)

When searching for reasons for the growing divide between the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, the bullpen is a good place to start.

Milwaukee (87-53) relied on its relievers again on Wednesday to move a season-high nine games ahead of second-place Chicago (78-62) in the National League Central with 22 games remaining.

The teams will conclude their four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday night.

The Brewers have won two straight games since losing the series opener 17-3 on Monday. Jackson Chourio had four hits, including his 21st homer, in a 9-5 Milwaukee victory on Wednesday.

The Brewers overcame a shaky outing by ace Jacob Misiorowski, who allowed a season-high five earned runs in four innings. Five Milwaukee relievers combined for five shutout innings of one-hit ball to secure the win.

'I think one of the big keys for the bullpen this year from day one has been, game by game, pitch by pitch, not trying to do too much,' Brewers reliever Abner Uribe said. 'Just go out there and focus on the game we have that day and every single pitch.'

Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer and singled in two runs for the Cubs, who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.

'We had very good at-bats,' manager Craig Counsell said. 'I thought we did a pretty darn good job against Misiorowski, and then their bullpen pitched very well and kind of put the game in order.'

Milwaukee's bullpen has allowed a total of one run over the last two games covering 9 2/3 innings, while Chicago relievers have struggled. Daniel Palencia, who returned from the injured list on Aug. 21, has surrendered a total of seven runs in his last four appearances.

'We need Daniel,' Counsell said. 'The results have not been good. The best thing we can do is get him out there as much as we can. We need our bullpen guys to get outs, and Daniel's one of the key guys we need to get going. We're going to keep putting him out there.'

The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in Milwaukee's Logan Henderson (9-2, 2.48 ERA) and Chicago's Kevin Gausman (8-11, 4.52).

Henderson, 24, allowed only one hit -- Danny Jansen's home run -- with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 6-1 home win over the Texas Rangers last Friday.

In 19 starts since debuting with the Brewers in April 2025, Henderson has not given up more than three runs in any outing.

'I mean, he's been real consistent,' manager Pat Murphy said. 'We love it when he's out there. He's a guy we trust, and he's been very, very consistent his whole career.'

Henderson will face the Cubs for the first time.

Chicago will counter with Gausman, 35, who yielded five runs over five innings in a 17-5 home win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Gausman is 3-1 with a 5.14 ERA in five starts since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 2.

Milwaukee's Andrew Vaughn is 3-for-12 with a homer against Gausman, who is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in eight career games (six starts) vs. Milwaukee. He allowed three runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Brewers as a member of the Blue Jays on April 14.

--Field Level Media