Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season. |
CHICAGO – Ben Brown found himself in the middle of a sequence of events on Saturday that could have easily led to an inning spiraling out of control. Facing the Mets in the eighth of a close game, the big righty induced five ground balls, but converting them into outs proved challenging. The Mets had two infield hits, had another batter reach on a fielder’s choice and scratched out a run with the help of a Cubs error. Rather than letting the moment get out of hand, Brown stayed in control and escaped the frame to help seal a 4-2 victory for the Cubs. It was the kind of inning that he may have lost his grip on in the past. “It’s encouraging, for sure,” Brown said. “Obviously, I went through a lot of growth and learning last year. I pitched a lot of innings to learn from, and it’s cool to see it play out in games.” |
After making the Opening Day roster, the 26-year-old Brown was always going to be a key piece to this Cubs pitching staff. The right-hander offers depth behind the rotation, but also a multi-inning arm that can provide a bridge between the starter and the late-inning arms. Given the recent rash of injuries, Brown’s role has been expanded. Righties Phil Maton (right knee), Hunter Harvey (right triceps), Daniel Palenica (left oblique) and Ethan Roberts (right middle finger) are all on the 15-day injured list. The circumstances have forced the Cubs to carry five lefties in the bullpen. Brown is suddenly a critical piece to the leverage-innings puzzle. “He was going to be important no matter what,” Cubs starter Jameson Taillon said. “But [more so now] with the injuries and stuff and his ability to pitch and want to pitch and take the ball. And multiple innings. He’s pitching leverage now. And also just like the evolution of his maturity out there. “I’ve always loved Ben. He’s great to show up and he's got great energy. … He’s been huge. I think we all knew he was going to be really important and here he is just pitching multiple innings in that fireman role.” |
All seven of Brown’s appearances to date this season have been multi-inning efforts, and he has spotted a 2.70 ERA with 15 strikeouts against six walks in 16 2/3 innings. Brown’s fastball has averaged 96.5 mph, per Statcast, while his curveball has generated a 41.3% whiff rate. He also has a new sinker, plus a changeup developed last year, adding more wrinkles. From manager Craig Counsell’s perspective, the way Brown handled Saturday’s outing against the Mets was an important moment for the pitcher. “It was a tough inning,” Counsell said. “The ball did not leave the infield. They get a run on the board. They’ve got the go-ahead run at the plate. The tying run on base. And he kept making good pitches. I’m really, really proud of Ben. You’re throwing the ball well, not getting outs, and it’s getting tighter and closer, and Ben kept making pitches. “That’s a really good sign and a big step. I think it’s important.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Nico Hoerner compiled 20 RBIs in his first 20 games this season. Who was the last Cubs second baseman to have at least 20 RBIs in his first 20 games of a campaign?
A. Ryne Sandberg
B. Javier Báez
C. Rogers Hornsby
D. Billy Herman
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CHECKING IN ON CUBS’ ABS USE |
The larger the sample becomes, the more clarity there will be about how and when teams are using the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, and which players may or may not have a knack for utilizing this new aspect to Major League Baseball. Through the Cubs’ first 20 games, here’s what the data says about the North Siders: • As of Sunday, Chicago’s batters have successfully won nine challenges with a 53% (9-for-17) overturn rate. That was above the MLB average (47%) for hitters. Alex Bregman led the way for the Cubs in both challenges overall (five) and overturned calls (three). • The MLB rate for fielder challenges (catchers and pitchers combined) was 59%, but the Cubs were above average at 74% (14-for-19). Cubs catcher Carson Kelly was near the top of the league with an 82% (9-for-11) success rate. |
BREGMANS THROW B-DAY BASH AT BALLPARK |
Earlier this weekend, Alex Bregman and his wife celebrated their son Bennett's 1-year birthday in a pretty unique way: turning Wrigley Field into the party venue. His name was on the old scoreboard, with his picture on the videoboards around the ballpark. Clark the Cub was on hand, as well as some live goats (proving once again that the Curse of the Billy Goat is long over). |
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“I don't think there’s any reason to believe he’s anything but what he’s shown so far, right? This is kind of what he’s done at every level. It’s what he did last year when he got an opportunity briefly here. It’s what he’s doing so far. LIke all of us, there’s going to be ups and downs, but it’s just so easy to believe in hitters when the bat-to-ball skill is that high, right? “There’s so many talented sluggers in the Minor Leagues or in baseball, but that straight-up, bat-to-ball ability, to square the ball up against all kinds of pitchers, all speeds, all fields, low strikeout, high power. That’s pretty special stuff, especially from a hitter that age. And it’s just fun to watch. It’s a beautiful swing.” -- Hoerner, on rookie Moisés Ballesteros |
MORE PLACES TO FOLLOW ALONG |
First and foremost, thank you for subscribing to the Cubs Beat newsletter and for checking out all the coverage at Cubs.com and MLB.com. As an early-season reminder, you can also follow me over on Bluesky and Instagram (you can find me under “bastianmlb”). For anyone who prefers TikTok, I’ve also started an account there, too. |
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B. Javier Báez Báez had 24 RBIs in his first 20 games of the 2018 season, when the former Cubs star went on to finish as the runner-up for the National League MVP Award. Hornsby also achieved the feat with 22 RBIs in his first 20 games in the 1931 season. Hoerner, Báez and Hornsby are the only Cubs second basemen on record to achieve this feat. |
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