The Cubs have been searching for consistency outside of Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad, who have kept the team afloat amid injuries and a sluggish offense.
The fourth and fifth spots in the rotation have been a revolving door. Kyle Hendricks has a 10.16 ERA and was recently demoted to the bullpen. Left-hander Jordan Wicks is recovering from a left forearm injury that put him on the 15-day injured list in April.
But rookie right-hander Ben Brown has stepped up and established himself as a viable option to remain in the rotation even when everyone returns to health.
“Ben’s doing a heck of a job,” manager Craig Counsell said.
“If we can get more healthy pitchers back and we have tough decisions, then that’s a good thing.”
Counsell did not commit to naming Brown a permanent rotation member, but his performance could force his hand. Brown has a 2.72 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 17 walks. He was working on a no-hitter in his seven innings against the Brewers on Tuesday.
One reason for keeping Brown in the rotation is the contrast in his pitching style compared to the other starters. He relies on a two-pitch mix (four-seam fastball and curveball) with electric velocity. His fastball velocity (96.5 mph) is in the 88th percentile, according to Baseball Savant.
Despite relying on two pitches, he has gone largely unscathed in his starts despite allowing some hard hits. If he can limit his barrels, he gives the Cubs another dimension in the rotation.
“Certainly the way Ben is pitching and the progress he’s made, the experience that he’s getting and just the results he’s delivering,” Counsell said, “we’re going to use those in the best way we can to win games, and right now it’s starting.”
Little’s development
Left-hander Luke Little is going through the usual ebbs and flows of a rookie season. This season is about progress for him. He has overpowering velocity, but it’s about harnessing that velocity.
“This is going to be a developmental year for Luke,” Counsell said Friday. “From the time that he went down when he started here, went down to the minor leagues and came back, we’ve taken a little step forward, which is a positive thing.”
The Cubs are short on arms they can rely on out of the bullpen, so Little becoming a weapon would be a huge development.
Little credited bullpen coach Darren Holmes for his help in transitioning to the pen.
“It’s also mental,” Little told the Sun-Times. “If you [don’t have the mental conviction] to throw a pitch, then you’re not going to be able to throw it how you want to. If you just put yourself in the mindset that, whatever they call, I’m going to rip this pitch and make it the best pitch I can throw, that helps a lot.”
Injury updates
- Counsell said not to expect reliever Julian Merryweather to return until after the All-Star break as he recovers from a stress fracture in his ribs.
- Reliever Yency Almonte (shoulder strain) is still doing his throwing program, and Counsell said he made good progress in Milwaukee, but his return date is still undecided.
