Availability
Cubs’ manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Ben Brown will start Friday’s series opener against the Rangers.
Fantasy Impact
Brown has held a long relief role out of the bullpen for the Cubs so far this season. He'll figure to pitch multiple innings to open Friday's game.
Ben Brown retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings on Saturday for his first save of the season as the Cubs blanked the Diamondbacks, 2-0.
Fantasy Impact
Brown got an infield pop out, a strikeout, and four groundouts in his two perfect innings for his first save of the year. It was his second career save with his other coming last August 23 against the Angels. The young righthander has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.1 innings and now has a 1.82 ERA with a 23:7 K:BB ratio in 11 appearances covering 24.2 innings. In his first season being exclusively used out of the bullpen, Brown has been vitally important to the Cubs given their injury problems to their relievers.
Ben Brown will be available in long relief if necessary on Wednesday against the Phillies.
Fantasy Impact
Matthew Boyd is making his return from the injured list on Wednesday. Brown will be available in long relief if needed.
Brown has generated strikeouts at an impressive rate across two major-league seasons but posted a 5.92 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 106.1 innings last year while alternating between the rotation and bullpen. His standard arsenal features a fastball and curveball, with a changeup incorporated more recently.
Fantasy Impact
A sinker is being tested this spring as an additional weapon, particularly against right-handed hitters. Brown is projected to work out of the bullpen to begin the 2026 campaign.
Ben Brown has been sent back to Triple-A.
Fantasy Impact
Brown is headed back to the minors to clear a spot for Michael Soroka (shoulder) to return to the Cubs. Brown had been pitching mostly in a long-relief role for the Cubs since the beginning of August, posting a 4.50 ERA and 22-5 K/BB ratio across 18 innings in that time frame.