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Ben Brown silences doubters in dominant first start for Cubs

Chicago needed stability from its battered pitching staff, and Brown delivered exactly that in Texas.
ByCasey McAleer|
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May 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown (32) pumps his arm after the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
May 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown (32) pumps his arm after the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Ben Brown entered Friday night carrying more questions than momentum, but by the time the Cubs walked off the field with a 7-1 win over the Rangers, the young right-hander had delivered one of his cleanest outings of the season. Brown made his first start to the season after a rocky beginning where he posted quality numbers and allowed zero to cross the plate.

Brown gave the Cubs exactly what they needed

Brown has had an uncertain reaction from fans following some difficult outings on the mound earlier this season. Despite his earlier struggles, Brown got the nod due to several pitching injuries that the Cubs have been working through. These injuries haven's seemed to slow down Chicago, as they completed Friday's game with an intact ten game win streak.

Brown's teammate Michael Busch was interviewed during the post-game celebrations where he said, "Ben Brown just, you know, stepping into a new role again for him, and to be able to pick up the ball and go four innings and dominate a really good lineup was really impressive."

With the Cubs pitching staff heavily beat up, the remaining healthy arms have needed to step up and pick up the pieces, and that's exactly what Brown accomplished tonight. Brown drew plenty of soft contact and ground balls. But that's why the defense is there. Brown may have had a dominant performance on Friday night, but no pitcher does it on his own. The support of his team was essential.

The injuries may be piled high to the north-siders pitching staff, but that hasn't stopped Ben Brown, or the Cubs. This performance from Brown is just another in a series of excellent pitching and excellent baseball. Though he's looked at as a reliable bullpen arm, this outing is exactly what Brown needed to show the Cubs that he's rotation material.

For a Cubs team trying to survive injuries without losing momentum, outings like this carry a little extra weight. Brown may have entered the night with questions surrounding his role, but he left it looking like a pitcher Chicago can trust moving forward.

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