Chicago Cubs’ young pitcher could—finally—be the team’s x-factor
The Chicago Cubs have suffered through a brutal stretch of bad luck when it comes to their pitching, all of it happening in about a three-week period of time to start out the 2026 season.
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24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton went down for the season with an elbow injury that required surgery. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd went on the shelf shortly after that with a left biceps strain. The Cubs have also lost closer Daniel Palencia (oblique) and relievers Phil Maton (knee), Hunter Harvey (triceps), and Ethan Roberts (finger laceration).
Through all this adversity, however, the team has been able to play .500 ball and is now in the midst of a five-game winning streak. That’s because where pitchers have fallen, other pitchers have stepped up to fill the voids.
Colin Rea and Javier Assad have stepped into the rotation to replace Horton and Boyd. Riley Martin has come up from Iowa to deliver 6.1 shutout innings so far. Caleb Thielbar has apparently shifted to the closer’s role.
Ben Brown, meanwhile, is also one of those who’s stepped up.
Ben Brown is stepping up
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His poise and maturity showed in a difficult eighth inning versus the Mets on Saturday where misfortune and an error looked to be costing the team the three-run lead they had earned just two innings earlier.
But the 26-year-old righty didn’t break. One unearned run was all the team from New York could muster that inning. The Cubs would hold on to win the game 4-2.
“It was a tough inning,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the game. “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.”
A valuable asset in rough times
Ben’s growth will be crucial as the Cubs labor through some rough pitching situations due to all the injuries. Averaging just over 2.1 innings per appearance and posting a 2.70 ERA so far, he plays a pivotal role as someone who can move back and forth between the bullpen and a spot in the rotation if needed.
“He was going to be important no matter what,” Cubs starter Jameson Taillon told media. “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.”
The 6-foot-6 swingman has shown occasional flashes of brilliance throughout his young career, but delivering consistent results has eluded him. If his beefed-up pitch arsenal and his step up in maturity hold firm, he could be the pitching staff ex-factor the Cubs have been looking for.
The post Chicago Cubs’ young pitcher could—finally—be the team’s x-factor appeared first on ChiCitySports.
Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-ben-brown-x-factor-counsell/
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