Brown struggles in return from Triple-A, expected to 'pitch in bulk or length'

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CHICAGO -- The Cubs’ starting pitching depth has been tested plenty this season. The front office may add external options as the July 31 Trade Deadline nears, but to help address the shortage now, the team brought back up one of its more intriguing young arms.

Before Monday’s 12-4 loss to Kansas City at Wrigley Field, Chicago announced it had recalled Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding move, Ethan Roberts was optioned to Iowa.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell didn’t say before the game whether he sees the 25-year-old righty as a bullpen arm or potentially taking over the fifth starter spot. Brown did pitch in relief Monday after Ryan Brasier served as the opener against the Royals, though he was tagged for seven runs (six earned) on seven hits (two home runs).

For as long as he’s up on the big league team, he could make starts or continue to pitch bulk innings out of the ‘pen. Counsell just expects Brown to be an “out-getter” in whatever role he’s in.

When asked if he’d consider emphasizing Brown out of the bullpen now that the baseball calendar has shrunk along with his pitch mix (95.7 percent four-seamers and knuckle curves in 2025 entering Monday, per Statcast), Counsell noted that, because Chicago’s “available starter situation isn't completely full right now,” he “would say no to that question as we sit here right now.”

“Obviously, things can change,” Counsell added, “but right now, he's going to pitch in bulk or length.”

Brown had appeared in 16 games (14 starts) in the first half, posting a rough 6.13 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP across 79 1/3 innings. He had some bright spots where he flashed his potential, including six shutout innings and nine strikeouts -- behind an opener -- against the Reds on May 31, followed by going toe to toe with reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal for seven innings on June 6.

However, he also had his struggles. He’s given up five or more earned runs in an outing six times this season before Monday, including in his last start in St. Louis on June 23 when he was tagged for eight earned runs on four two-run homers. Chicago then optioned Brown to Iowa the next day, in part to give him some rest and help manage his workload.

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Brown started for Iowa on July 6 and July 13, allowing only one run, four hits and a walk while striking out five across nine innings. While in Triple-A, he worked on some mechanical adjustments and on improving his changeup and curveball.

He threw 54 pitches in the first outing and 58 in the second, so the efficiency was there. But efficiency isn’t all the Cubs need to see.

Execution was a real factor in Brown’s struggles. His mistakes have gotten hit, and often got hit hard, as evidenced by his first percentile average exit velocity (92.5 mph, per Statcast) going into Monday.

He felt his second-inning matchup with Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone on Monday, which ended with Caglianone homering on a 1-2 knuckle curve on the outside part of the plate, was more of a tip-your-cap moment than bad execution. What stood out to him was the second home run he gave up two innings later.

Brown retired the next six hitters after Caglianone -- including three punchouts -- and it looked like he was rolling. But then in the fourth, he gave up a single to Kansas City third baseman Maikel Garcia on a 1-1, middle-middle fastball.

That was followed by a first-pitch four-seamer in the heart of the zone that catcher Salvador Perez drilled for a two-run homer. The Royals then scored four more times on Brown in the fifth.

“Just a mistake to Perez, but that's also baseball,” Brown said. “It's going to happen. It's how you respond and get the next guy out.”

It’s unclear what Brown’s role is moving forward. Again, it can be as a starter or as a length arm out of the bullpen.

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This spot in the rotation could come up once more before the Deadline, and unless the Cubs acquire a starter in the next few days, Brown would be an option to pitch that game.

But regardless of his role, he knows he just needs to be better whenever he gets the ball.

“I got to start helping the team win. I think that's the most important thing,” Brown said. “I'm kind of a non-contributor when things are like it happened tonight. It's unfortunate, so whatever opportunity is ahead of me, I've got to be better to earn that.”

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