The city is pacing, the coffee’s gone cold, and every breath feels like a countdown. We’re staring down Game 4 at Wrigley, and the path forward is oddly clear: turn gratitude into urgency, and urgency into a plan that squeezes Milwaukee’s choices. We dig into why the Brewers’ handling of Freddie Peralta—95 pitches in Game 1, an opener in Game 2, and a short leash yesterday—has created a bind that benefits Chicago. If they use him tonight, they compromise his early NLCS availability. If they hold him, they might not get that far. That’s not noise; that’s leverage.

On our side, Matt Boyd doesn’t need to dazzle. He needs to turn adrenaline into mis-hits, live on the corners, and let the crowd magnify every borderline strike. We talk through how Boyd’s Wrigley profile plays against a lineup that wants to ambush and how a patient approach against Peralta—spitting at the ladder up, refusing chase east-west—can bleed pitch count and push the game into a bullpen battle the Cubs are ready to win. Four runs is the target. Not a slugfest, but a sequence: early pressure, long at-bats, and timely contact.

We also get honest about the mental math. Milwaukee is trying to plan two moves ahead, mapping Peralta for an NLCS that isn’t guaranteed. Chicago has one job: win tonight. That single-task focus shapes everything—lineup choices around Hap, inning-to-inning matchups, and the trust in a bullpen that’s already felt real leverage. We name the arms who could bridge the middle, the platoon spots that matter, and why “house money” at home isn’t luck; it’s a license to be aggressive with decisions and disciplined in the box.

If your heart is pounding, you’re in the right place. Tap play, feel the stadium rise, and ride with us as we break down how to force Game 5—one pitch, one plate appearance, one moment at a time. If you believe, share this with a Cubs fan who needs a steady voice today. And if you’re new here, subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us your Game 4 score pick—we’ll feature our favorites next show. Go Cubs.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney