Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season. |
DENVER -- The All-Star break is a little over a month away, and the Cubs have an unexpected contender emerging for the National League’s roster. Between his strong showing out of the bullpen and his recent string of stellar starts, Ben Brown has the potential to stay on a path to the Midsummer Classic. Brown has already been one of the great storylines for the North Siders within a first half that has really tested the ballclub on all fronts. Representing the Cubs at the All-Star Game would take his impressive campaign to another level. “I try not to think about it too much,” Brown said recently. “Just to think about the arc over the last two months, to see that? It would be crazy. But I’m just gonna keep my head down and just keep throwing the ball.” The Cubs’ rotation has been beset with injuries throughout the first half. Cade Horton was lost for the season due to right elbow surgery in April. Justin Steele has been sidelined since last year and his timetable is still unclear. Edward Cabrera missed time. Matthew Boyd is on the injured list and Jameson Taillon joined him earlier this week. |
When Boyd was shelved due to a fluky left knee injury that necessitated surgery in early May, Brown was moved out of the bullpen and into the rotation. In his first six turns for the starting staff, the right-hander has spun a 1.44 ERA with 34 strikeouts against eight walks in 31 1/3 innings. He has given up 18 hits with no homers allowed. Prior to the move to the rotation, the 26-year-old Brown turned in a 2.10 ERA in 12 relief outings, including 10 that featured at least two innings. At that moment in time, the righty was providing crucial bridge innings for a bullpen that was also dealing with injuries to a wave of key arms. “He’s been so important to us in both those roles,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said recently. “I think there’s real upside and potential for him in the rotation.” Brown is not currently among the qualified pitchers in the Majors in terms of innings volume, but he has a 1.74 ERA through 57 frames overall. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season to date, Brown entered Wednesday ranked fourth overall behind the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (0.74), the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski (1.50) and the Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez (1.54). |
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has repeatedly pointed to a season-ending conversation with Brown, who had a great plan going into the offseason. He wanted to develop a sinker, continue to improve a changeup that evolved through a trying 2025 campaign and get into better physical shape to handle whatever was asked of him in ‘26. Brown hit those marks and -- combined with the high-velocity four-seamer and his signature knuckle-curve -- has featured an arsenal that has overpowered batters to this point this season. “This is kind of what you talk about with injuries and opportunities,” Counsell said. “This is often how it happens. And that’s why you preach like, you get bad news -- you get sent down or you’re not maybe in the spot you want to be -- but are you ready when the next moment, what you want, when that moment arrives? “I do think that Ben, again, going back to the conversation at the end of the season, I think it’s kind of what he decided: ‘There might be some stuff in-between, where I get to where I want to be, but this is what I’m committed to becoming.’ He’s done a good job. He didn’t get deterred and made himself better.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Who has hit the most home runs all-time at Coors Field for the Cubs?
A) Sammy Sosa
B) Michael Busch
C) Mark Grace
D) Aramis Ramirez |
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MLB CLUBHOUSE HIGHLIGHTS CUBS
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CUBS CHARITIES TAKING NON-PROFIT NOMINEES
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As part of the Cubs’ 150th anniversary celebration, Cubs Charities has launched an initiative to shine a light on some local non-profits. The team’s charitable arm is currently accepting nominations for the first-ever Cubs Charities Community Awards, which will focus on groups working to improve youth development through baseball, softball and/or education programs. To read more or nominate a local organization, head over to cubscharities.com. |
• Boyd’s return pushed back amid shoulder soreness. Read more >> • Imanaga shines at Coors, but Cubs' 'confusing' offensive woes continue. Read more >> • Cubs hitters taking accountability through struggles. Read more >> • Taillon (left hamstring) likely out until second half. Read more >> • PCA was NL’s Player of the Week last week. Read more >> |
“He carries himself with confidence. Results are going to come and go, but how he’s carrying himself is sustainable. How he’s carrying himself, man, he’s carrying himself like just a Dude. And it’s what our team needs. It’s going to be awesome when we’re all back and Benny has stepped into that. He’s leading. It’s awesome.” -- Boyd, on Brown |
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A) Sammy Sosa It’s Sosa by a landslide for this particular category. Slammin’ Sammy launched 21 career homers at Coors Field during his time with the Cubs. Next on the list? Jose Hernandez with eight blasts. Among current Cubs, Busch leads the way with five. |
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