Ben Brown is becoming exactly what the Cubs desperately needed right now

Faced with the reality of Matthew Boyd being sidelined until June, Justin Steele out until after the All-Star break, and Cade Horton likely missing all of this season and most of the 2027 season, the Chicago Cubs needed an immediate answer for their starting rotation. With the calendar only in May, the only way that answer would be identified would be with an internal option emerging. That option has surprisingly become Ben Brown.

When the Cubs were mapping out the plan for Brown this season during spring training, it was met with reservations from Cubs fans. Over the last two seasons, the Cubs had given Brown every opportunity to become a fixture in the starting rotation, and he has struggled at every turn. Brown would have stretches where he looked brilliant, only for his progress to be derailed by the fact that he was a two-pitch pitcher.

That has changed this season. With the help of an altered changeup and a sinker added to his mix, Brown has suddenly become one of the most valuable pitchers on the Cubs' staff. It started in the bullpen as Brown posted a 2.10 ERA in a tick under 26 innings pitched out of the bullpen. He wasn't getting hit hard, keeping balls on the ground, and throwing competitive pitches.

Ben Brown's emergence is becoming the Cubs' biggest development

As Brown was having success out of the bullpen, given the injuries the Cubs were dealing with in the starting rotation, it was inevitably going to be asked if he should be given another chance as a starting pitcher. He was last weekend against the Texas Rangers, and it was an encouraging welcome back to the rotation. Brown posted an efficient four innings of work while keeping the Rangers scoreless and hitless.

Brown certainly earned the chance to stay in the rotation, and his start against the Braves on Thursday may have just been the one that ensures his path forward as a starting pitcher. He's still being stretched out, so he was limited to four innings of work, but he kept the Braves scoreless while striking out seven. Even more impressively, 40 of the 65 pitches he threw went for strikes.

The Cubs still will need to seek out a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, but Brown is checking off an important box for the team in the meantime. The 26-year-old seems to be realizing his potential as a high-ceiling starting pitcher, and that couldn't come at a more important time for the Cubs as they look to stabilize their pitching staff.

As crazy as it would have sounded in spring training, Brown is suddenly becoming one of the most important pitchers in the Cubs' rotation this season.

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