Cubs' Ben Brown: Goes four scoreless in start Friday
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Brown didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rangers, allowing one walk with three strikeouts across four scoreless and hitless innings.
Brown was forced into starting duties Friday after Matthew Boyd (knee) was placed on the injured list this week. After pitching exclusively out of the bullpen prior to this start, Brown was limited to 46 pitches against Texas. He lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.82 with a 27:9 K:BB across 29.2 innings. After making 15 starts last season, it shouldn't take long for Brown to build his arm back up to handle a starter's workload while the Cubs navigate their rotation injuries.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Receiving look as starter Friday
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Brown is slated to start Friday's series opener against the Rangers in Arlington, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Brown will be stepping into the rotation spot vacated by Matthew Boyd (knee) after the latter was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. The right-hander has operated exclusively as a bullpen arm this season, posting a 2.10 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 24 strikeouts over 25.2 innings. Brown has yet to exceed 50 pitches in any of his 12 appearances to date, so he'll likely have some limitations from a workload standpoint as he makes his first start since July 27, 2025. Over his 15 starts with the Cubs last season, Brown turned in a 6.30 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 75.2 innings.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Notches first save
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Brown earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, striking out one batter in two perfect innings.
After Shota Imanaga gave Chicago seven scoreless frames, Brown was brought in to preserve a 2-0 lead in the eighth. The right-hander retired the side in order on 13 pitches in that frame and remained in the game for the ninth, when he again set down the side in order, this time on 11 pitches, to pick up his first save of the season. Brown was a popular pick to take over closer duties after Daniel Palencia went on the IL with a lat injury April 17, but this was his first save chance since that time. Brown has certainly displayed the stuff to be a ninth-inning option -- he has a 1.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB over 24.2 frames on the campaign. However, Palencia is on track to be activated in the coming days, so Saturday may end up being a rare save chance for Brown.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Mops up innings Opening Day
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Brown allowed two runs on three hits across 3.1 innings in Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Nationals. He walked one and struck out three.
The righty reliever was forced into early action after Chicago starter Matthew Boyd covered only 3.2 innings in a rough outing. Brown served up a two-run home run to Jacob Young to account for the runs against him. After making 23 regular-season starts for the Cubs across the last two seasons, it looks like Brown will handle a long-relief role out of the bullpen in 2026. He should be a decent source of strikeouts, though his overall fantasy value will be capped as a reliever.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Makes Opening Day roster
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Brown will be on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Brown's last two Cactus League appearances came in relief and totaled three innings, and it's in the bullpen where he's expected to open the 2026 campaign. He could be used as a multi-inning reliever initially, but Brown has the ability to work his way into a more integral role, either as a high-leverage bullpen option or as a starting pitcher if a need arises.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Working on new pitch
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Brown is experimenting with adding a sinker to his pitch mix during spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Brown has typically relied on a fastball and curveball, with a changeup mixed in more recently. The righty is now trying out a sinker as another out pitch, particularly against right-handed batters. Brown has racked up strikeouts at an impressive rate across two seasons in the majors, but he struggled last year with a 5.92 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 106.1 regular-season innings while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. The 26-year-old is likely to be a reliever to begin the 2026 campaign, and an effective sinker could help him succeed in that role, especially if his fastball plays up a few ticks as well.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Sent back to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Brown to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.
He's being sent down to make room on the active roster for the return of Michael Soroka (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list. Brown has made 15 starts and 10 relief appearances for the Cubs this season, posting a 5.92 ERA and 121:32 K:BB over 106.1 frames.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Picks up three-inning save
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Brown allowed one run on two hits and struck out three without walking a batter over three innings to earn the save in Saturday's 12-1 win over the Angels.
Brown earned the first save of his major-league career, throwing 30 of 44 pitches for strikes in this outing. The right-hander probably won't be in the mix for more traditional save chances, as Daniel Palencia has thrived as the Cubs' closer this year. Brown has made his last three appearances out of the bullpen, though they've been spaced far enough apart that he is still ostensibly on a starter's schedule if he has to make a spot start at some point. Over 22 appearances (15 starts), Brown has a 5.82 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 111:30 K:BB through 102 innings this season.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Solid in relief Tuesday
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Brown allowed one run on four hits and a walk across four innings of relief in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
Brown was originally expected to start Tuesday's contest, but it was Javier Assad (oblique) who ended up with that honor in his season debut. Assad allowed four runs on eight hits in his four innings of work, with Brown looking sharper in long relief. Even with Brown turning in a good performance, his opportunity as a starter this year may have run its course, as Assad is now healthy and Jameson Taillon (calf) is expected back from the injured list soon. Brown will likely settle into a bullpen role with the Cubs getting healthier in their rotation.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: No longer starting Tuesday
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Brown is no longer expected to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays after the Cubs activated Javier Assad (oblique) from the 60-day injured list, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Assad will take the bump and make his 2025 season debut after throwing 18.1 innings across five rehab starts. It's unclear if the Cubs will move Brown's turn back in the rotation or send him to the bullpen. Brown has struggled to a 6.04 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 104:27 K:BB across 92.1 innings of work this season.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Picking up start Tuesday
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Brown is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Brown was moved to the bullpen after the Cubs acquired Michael Soroka ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, but Brown will temporarily move back into the rotation after Soroka strained his right shoulder in his team debut during last Monday's 3-2 loss to the Reds and landed on the injured list. In that same game, Brown came on in long relief and struck out five over four innings, so he should be stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload Tuesday. Brown may be in line for just one turn through the rotation, as Jameson Taillon (calf) and Javier Assad (oblique) are both in the midst of rehab assignments and could be ready to return from the IL the next time a fifth starter is needed.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Fills in admirably Monday
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Brown allowed one run on two hits across four innings of relief in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Reds. He struck out five.
The newly acquired Michael Soroka made the start for the Cubs, but he only lasted two innings in his team debut before departing due to right shoulder discomfort. Brown was then thrust into action, and the young righty responded with one of his best performances over the past few months. Soroka had seemingly pushed Brown out of the rotation upon his arrival in Chicago, but it remains to be seen if the former has to miss any extended time. If he does, Brown and his 6.04 ERA could be back in a starting role at least temporarily, though the Cubs do also have Jameson Taillon (calf) likely returning from the injured list in the near future.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Breezes to fifth win
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Brown (5-7) earned the win Sunday against the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
The only blemish on Brown's short, 57-pitch outing was an Andrew Benintendi solo shot in the opening frame. Otherwise, the 25-year-old right-hander steamrolled through the Chicago lineup with his fastball touching 97.9 mph while averaging 96.2 mph (up slightly from his season mark of 95.8 mph). Brown now owns a 6.22 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 99:27 K:BB across 88.1 total frames. His future role with the big-league club is unknown as Jameson Taillon (calf) threw a 47-pitch bullpen session Friday and is slated for an early August return. If Brown sticks in the rotation, his next turn currently lines up to come against Baltimore at home next weekend.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Getting start Sunday
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Brown will start Sunday's game versus the White Sox at Rate Field, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Brown returned from a nearly month-long stint in the minors July 21 and gave up seven runs (six earned) over four innings in long relief one day later against Kansas City. Despite that rough outing, the Cubs are giving the right-hander another opportunity to start, though it may not be a permanent move back into the rotation since Jameson Taillon (calf) is on track to return from the injured list in the first half of August. Brown has posted an impressive 10.3 K/9 across 83.1 innings spanning 17 appearances (14 starts) on the campaign, but the rest of his numbers have been mostly poor, including a 6.48 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 4-7 record.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Falters in long relief
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Brown (4-7) took the loss against Kansas City on Monday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over four innings.
After nearly a month in the minors, Brown was summoned back to the big club Monday to work in bulk relief behind opener Ryan Brasier. While Brown did manage to eat up four frames on 63 pitches, he wasn't very effective and was especially stung by the long ball -- he gave up a pair of homers to account for three of the runs against him. The right-hander has dazzled at times this season, including during a two-outing stretch in late May and early June during which he allowed two runs and posted a 16:2 K:BB over 13 frames, but that just makes his overall struggles more frustrating. Brown is at a 6.48 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 83.1 innings on the season, and it remains to be seen how long he'll stick on the big-league roster after his latest poor appearance.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: May see smaller workload in minors
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Brown could see his workload reduced a bit at Triple-A Iowa as the Cubs seek to keep him fresh for an eventual return to the majors, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Brown is slated to still start games for the Iowa Cubs, though he could face an innings limit or potentially see some work in long relief. The team also wants the young righty to keep developing his changeup and improve his control, as he walked 27 batters in 79.1 innings for Chicago before his demotion. Brown has the stuff to make an impact again in the majors this season, though fantasy managers will likely need to be patient.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Cubs optioned Brown to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
The Cubs were going to need to clear a spot in the rotation for Shota Imanaga's (hamstring) return later this week, and Brown sealed his fate when he got rocked for eight runs over five innings in Monday's start versus the Cardinals. The righty has offered occasional flashes of brilliance, but they've come with rough patches as well, and Brown will carry a 6.13 ERA back to Iowa.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Holds Brewers in check in win
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Brown (4-5) recorded the win Tuesday against the Brewers, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out five.
The long ball remained an issue for Brown, who gave up at least one home run in his third consecutive start, but he was able to limit the damage despite surrendering four extra-base hits. It was the third time in the 25-year-old right-hander's last three starts that he threw at least five innings while allowing two runs or fewer, which has helped improve his ERA to 5.57 to go with a 1.48 WHIP and 88:25 K:BB across 74.1 innings for the season. Brown has still conceded at least five runs on five occasions in 2025, so he should be considered a volatile fantasy option this weekend in a challenging test versus the Mariners.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Hit hard in Wednesday's loss
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Brown (3-5) took the loss Wednesday as the Cubs fell 7-2 to the Phillies, coughing up six runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
Half of the hits off Brown went for extra bases, including a massive 431-foot solo shot to right field by Kyle Schwarber and a triple by Nick Castellanos that missed leaving the yard by an inch or two, both in the third inning. It's the third time in his last five starts that Brown has been tagged for at least six runs, and while the other two outings in that time were quality starts, his ERA has swollen to 5.71 as a consequence. The right-hander will look for a better result in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Brewers.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Goes seven innings in loss
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Brown (3-4) took the loss against the Tigers on Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven innings.
Brown generated 15 whiffs on 92 pitches and held his own against Tarik Skubal before surrendering a solo homer in the sixth inning. It marked the 25-year-old's first quality start since May 2, and he's now allowed just two earned runs over 13 frames in his past two outings. He'll carry a 5.37 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 78:20 K:BB across 63.2 innings into another tough matchup with the Phillies next week.
