Ben Brown shift could be first domino in Cubs’ pitching overhaul

A move to the bullpen may not be the only thing the Chicago Cubs are considering when it comes to what's next for Ben Brown. Brown flashed signs of excellence during the early innings of his start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, holding the Cardinals without a run for the first three innings of the game. The wheels began to fall off in the fourth inning when Brown allowed a two-run home run to Lars Nootbaar. It only got worse from there.

When all was said and done, in five innings of work, Brown was tagged for 8 runs on 9 hits. The 8 runs that Brown gave up came off four two-run home runs. Brown's latest rough outing comes at a time when Shota Imanaga is returning to the starting rotation on Thursday.

Brown's struggles on Monday may have answered the question of who will move to the bullpen with Imanaga's return. However, beyond that, a demotion to the bullpen might not be the next stop for the young pitcher. As Sahadev Sharma noted, it's now a question of whether Brown should go back to developing at the Triple-A level.

Ben Brown shift would only highlight how messy the Cubs’ pitching plan is

It's worth noting that Craig Counsell mentioned on Monday that Porter Hodge is with the team in St. Louis. One move could see Hodge activated, and Brown optioned to Triple-A. Brown is among the few pitchers on the Cubs' staff who have minor-league options remaining, and moving him to the minors would give them added flexibility. That said, it wouldn't be a complete answer for what the Cubs are lacking.

The Cubs' bullpen, while finding recent success, has struggled to miss bats this season. Brown could check that box, but considering his splits, he would likely be limited to only facing right-handed batters. Overall, the Cubs also have a need for a starting pitcher who can stabilize the rotation after Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd. With reports that the Cubs could be closing in on a deal for a starter, it would seem likely that the team currently isn't looking to add an ace.

Changes are coming for the Cubs' pitching staff, and it could happen as early as this week, depending on the plan for Brown.

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