Pitcher Returns to Cubs with Big Chip on His Shoulder
The Chicago Cubs have called up right-handed pitcher Ben Brown from Triple-A and you bet that he has a big chip on his shoulder after he lost his starting rotation spot earlier this season. Brown won’t start in Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, but he’s projected to pick up most of the workload as the bulk pitcher after reliever Ryan Brasier “starts” for the Cubs.
Brown was optioned to the minors on June 24, following a brutal start against the St. Louis Cardinals. Brown allowed eight earned runs on nine hits, which included four home runs in five innings. The righty recorded a 6.13 ERA in 16 games prior to his demotion.
Right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Brown on the active roster.
During his time back in the minor leagues, Brown pitched well for the Iowa Cubs. He made two starts at Triple-A and in nine innings Brown struck out five, walked one and gave up a total of one earned run on four hits.
Brown’s last appearance was on July 13.
The Cubs have used Brown as the bulk starter once this year and it resulted in Brown’s best outing of the year. He pitched six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds on May 31, when he struck out nine and only gave up one hit in a 2-0 win by the Cubs.
This is a huge outing for Brown as the Cubs are expected to add pitching before the trade deadline passes. If he can show the Cubs that he can mix in his change up enough to keep batters from zeroing in on his fastball, then Brown could earn more opportunities in the starting rotation in the final two months of the regular season.
Ben Brown Sent to Triple-A
The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-handed pitcher Ben Brown to Triple-A and have replaced him with right-handed reliever Porter Hodge. Although the demotion to Iowa is obviously seen as a negative for Brown it might actually show that the Cubs do value him as a starting pitcher in the longterm. Brown can now reset in the minors and work through his struggles without negatively effecting the big-league club that’s trying to put together a serious contender in October.
Brown’s latest start against the St. Louis Cardinals was one of his worst in 2025, as the right-hander surrendered four home runs in en route to an 8-2 loss. He gave up all eight runs in five innings, marking the fourth time in his last seven starts in which Brown was charged with at least six earned runs.
With Brown out of the starting rotation veteran Colin Rea will continue as the No. 5 starter, while Shōta Imanaga will return to his spot on Thursday in the series finale against the Cardinals.
Brown has posted a 6.13 ERA in 79.1 innings this season.
(Previous Update)
Ben Brown has made 17 MLB starts with the Chicago Cubs and so far the results have been mixed. The 25-year-old made his big-league debut during the 2024 season, which was eventually cut short because of a neck issue. Now, as the Cubs look to become serious contenders in the National League, the spotlight has gotten brighter on Brown, who hasn’t been able to shut down MLB hitters at the same rate that he was in the minors.
On one hand, it is only a sample size of 17 starts, 82.2 total innings. Overall, the numbers look fine for Brown, who has posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, with a strikeout rate of 27.5%. However, you can’t argue the fact that hitters are certainly making harder contact against Brown so far in 2025.
Ben Brown Batted Ball Data (as SP)
2024: 16.1 Line Drive %, 30.9 Hard Hit %
2025: 21.3 Line Drive %, 34.4 Hard Hit %
So far in 2025, Brown has a 5.36 ERA in nine starts. The right-handed pitcher is allowing an opponent batting average of .289. Yet, those numbers are coming with a .377 BABIP and Brown has a 3.53 FIP and 3.23 xFIP heading into Sunday’s start against the Reds.
Brown’s walk rate as a starter has dropped from 9.2% to 6.6% and that includes an active five-start stretch in which Brown has an incredible 32/3 strikeout to walk ratio in 24.2 innings. He’s looked great this year against the Dodgers and Brewers, shutting out both teams in separate six-inning starts. But Brown has also struggled against lessor teams like most recently the Marlins, who scored six runs on seven hits, including two home runs on Monday.
Out of Brown’s nine starts so far in 2025, he’s only pitched into the sixth three times. In April, Brown had a stretch of pitching no more than four innings in three of four starts.
This question has been on the table since 2024, and following his last start in Miami, it popped up again. Should the Cubs move Brown to the bullpen?
See, I don’t mind the discussion. I do think that Brown should be given room to grow and continue to develop, but the Cubs are trying to win and should explore what’s best for them, not just Brown in 2025. That being said, you’re going to replace Brown in the rotation with Chris Flexen?
I think this conversation is better suited for mid-June, when Shōta Imanaga is projected to return from his hamstring strain. Until then, keep Brown in the rotation and re-evaluate after these next three weeks or so.
At some point you know that the Cubs may limit Brown’s innings anyway in 2025, so maybe we do see him in a relief role later in the season. But to pull the plug on a guy with his talent after less than 20 starts in the big leagues, which again have overall netted decent results, would be too drastic of a move for the Cubs.
Once Imanaga returns and as long as the other starters remain healthy, then fine, explore how to use Brown out of the bullpen if he doesn’t show more consistency.