MILWAUKEE — The visitors’ clubhouse at American Family Field was silent on Saturday night, filled only with the sting of a season that had ended too soon. The Chicago Cubs, fresh off a hard-fought 3–1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, sat together absorbing the reality that their eight-month journey was over.
Manager Craig Counsell, who guided the Cubs to 92 wins, their first postseason appearance in five years and first playoff series win in eight, gathered the team for one final message — one that hit hard in the moment, but will likely linger long into the offseason.
“Couns was saying it feels like we made the city proud and wore the jersey well this year and really fought all the way to the end,” reliever Brad Keller said.
It’s never easy to find silver linings after falling just nine wins short of the Commissioner’s Trophy. But Counsell reminded his players of what they accomplished — and how much it meant to Chicago.
“I think it meant so much to our players to provide that for our fans,” Counsell said. “That’s what you do: You honor the uniform; you honor the place. We didn’t get it done today, and that hurts. But when you zoom back a little bit, we did some good things as well.”
“Those were two of the best games of my life”
For many of the Cubs, the five playoff games at Wrigley Field were unforgettable.
“Those were two of the best games of my life,” said Pete Crow-Armstrong, the team’s breakout star of 2025. “That’s just more motivation to be able to do it year in and year out.”
Counsell’s message was clear: remember the pain — and use it.
“Feel that pain of that loss and carry that into the offseason,” said left-hander Shota Imanaga, through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “I don’t want to forget that feeling, and that’s going to help me build to become a better player.”
Imanaga knows there’s room to grow. After a stellar first half, the Japanese ace faded late in the season, struggling with the home-run ball and ultimately not pitching in the decisive Game 5 despite being lined up to start.
Leaving it all on the field
Saturday wasn’t about blame or breakdowns — those conversations will come later. Instead, Counsell and his players took pride in how far they had come, even in defeat.
“When you get to put on those pinstripes, it’s really special,” said veteran Matthew Boyd. “We came up short, but we left it all out on the field. We’re going to use that experience to get to where we want to go next year — and do everything we can to avoid this feeling next season.”
The heartbreak of October is fresh, but so is the belief. For the 2025 Cubs, the journey ended in Milwaukee — yet the lessons from that loss might just be the foundation for something greater in 2026.
