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Cubs may have finally found pitching stability in Ben Brown

The young right-hander delivered six efficient innings against Toronto in one of his strongest outings of the season.
ByCasey McAleer|
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May 25, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown (32) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
May 25, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown (32) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ben Brown has had a roller coaster of a season with the Cubs, but his skills were on display on Friday, in a moment when the Cubs really needed it. Across six innings pitched, Brown only gave up four hits and two earned runs, with no walks and four strikeouts. In a world where pitching reliability has been impossible to get for the Cubs, Brown's outing was a breath of fresh air. From the first inning, the Cubs took a commanding lead over the Blue Jays that resulted in an embarrassing 16-2 victory.

The Cubs offense was consistently on the attack, showing flashes of what the team more closely resembled in April and May. This allowed Brown the opportunity to relax and really settle into his pitching. Command has been somewhat of an issue for the 26 year old right hander, but by giving him the breathing room, he efficiently kept his pitch count low and the opponent in check.

Ben Brown's efficiency was the biggest takeaway

Brown only threw 72 pitches in six innings. That's more than ideal, especially when you consider that 51 of them were strikes. While his strikeout count remained low and doesn't jump off of the page, 51 strikes on 72 pitches is still impressive.

Manager Craig Counsell finally gave Brown the chance to stay out there more than three or four innings at a time, and this is sure to give Brown's confidence a boost. It's much needed on the Cubs when the rest of the pitching staff has seemingly been run over by a truck. Stability is something the Cubs have been desperately searching for, even making several minor league trades to try to bolster the pitching arsenal.

Brown's outing alone won't solve every issue facing the Cubs' pitching staff, but it was an encouraging step in the right direction. Chicago has been desperate for starters capable of providing both quality and length, and Brown delivered both against Toronto. If he can build on this performance and continue attacking the strike zone, the Cubs may have found a much-needed source of stability in their rotation.

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