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The Chicago Cubs’ rotation is on the verge of gaining two key starters.
Right-hander Edward Cabrera is scheduled to come off the injured list this weekend against the San Francisco Giants, while left-hander Matthew Boyd remains on track to return next week during the Cubs’ West Coast trip if he comes out of Saturday’s rehab start at Triple-A Iowa feeling good.
Cabrera (right middle finger blister) is eligible to come off the IL on Friday, while Boyd has been sidelined since May 4 following surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. The Cubs are 3-7 without Cabrera and 10-16 without Boyd.
“We’ve had significant losses in the rotation,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday. “I mean, essentially you’re down the (Nos.) 1, 2, and 4 at this point to start the season, so yeah, we need healthy bodies back, and absolutely right now everything is pointing to them returning in the near term.”
The Cubs have struggled to get quality innings from their starters. They began June with a combined 4.71 ERA, 25th in the majors. They particularly struggled in May when the rotation posted a 5.33 ERA, better only than the Miami Marlins (5.76) and Colorado Rockies (7.20), with a third-worst 0.2 fWAR.
Right-hander Ben Brown has been the most consistent starter since being moved into the rotation to replace Boyd. In five starts, Brown has allowed five runs in 26 innings (1.73 ERA) with 29 strikeouts and seven walks. Adding a sinker in the offseason and continuing to work on his changeup has made Brown a more well-rounded pitcher who isn’t solely reliant on his fastball and curveball.
“When I came to the realization that I’m a better pitcher when I throw these pitches, I think there’s been games this year where maybe the changeup wasn’t there, the sinker or whatever the case is, but I’m kind of just telling myself I have to do it, this is what’s going to make me have success,” Brown said Tuesday. “That belief really goes a long way, for sure.
“Whatever the future holds, I just think these last five starts are different, whatever comes out of it. Just what it’s done for me has been, it’s been really cool.”
Brown’s stellar performance extends beyond what he’s done since being used in the rotation. Between his production out of the bullpen and starting, Brown owns a 1.92 ERA in 51 2/3 innings this year. Could an All-Star Game nod follow in July?
“It’d be an honor,” Brown said. “I’m trying not to think about it too much. I mean, just thinking about the arc over the last two months to see that, it would be crazy. Just keep my head down and throw the ball.
“I was looking at my shoulder a lot last year, especially around this time, so it’s cool to just keep working. A ton of gratitude.”
Left-hander Jordan Wicks received an opportunity to make his first big-league starts since September 2024 when called up to take Cabrera’s spot in the rotation. The Cubs optioned Wicks to Iowa on Tuesday, swapping him out for righty reliever Tyler Ferguson to give the bullpen another arm until Cabrera starts this weekend. Wicks struggled in his two outings — losses in Pittsburgh and St. Louis — surrendering 11 runs on 13 hits in just 6 1/3 innings.
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Right-hander Edward Cabrera is scheduled to come off the injured list this weekend against the San Francisco Giants, while left-hander Matthew Boyd remains on track to return next week during the Cubs’ West Coast trip if he comes out of Saturday’s rehab start at Triple-A Iowa feeling good.
Cabrera (right middle finger blister) is eligible to come off the IL on Friday, while Boyd has been sidelined since May 4 following surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. The Cubs are 3-7 without Cabrera and 10-16 without Boyd.
“We’ve had significant losses in the rotation,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday. “I mean, essentially you’re down the (Nos.) 1, 2, and 4 at this point to start the season, so yeah, we need healthy bodies back, and absolutely right now everything is pointing to them returning in the near term.”
The Cubs have struggled to get quality innings from their starters. They began June with a combined 4.71 ERA, 25th in the majors. They particularly struggled in May when the rotation posted a 5.33 ERA, better only than the Miami Marlins (5.76) and Colorado Rockies (7.20), with a third-worst 0.2 fWAR.
Right-hander Ben Brown has been the most consistent starter since being moved into the rotation to replace Boyd. In five starts, Brown has allowed five runs in 26 innings (1.73 ERA) with 29 strikeouts and seven walks. Adding a sinker in the offseason and continuing to work on his changeup has made Brown a more well-rounded pitcher who isn’t solely reliant on his fastball and curveball.
“When I came to the realization that I’m a better pitcher when I throw these pitches, I think there’s been games this year where maybe the changeup wasn’t there, the sinker or whatever the case is, but I’m kind of just telling myself I have to do it, this is what’s going to make me have success,” Brown said Tuesday. “That belief really goes a long way, for sure.
“Whatever the future holds, I just think these last five starts are different, whatever comes out of it. Just what it’s done for me has been, it’s been really cool.”
Brown’s stellar performance extends beyond what he’s done since being used in the rotation. Between his production out of the bullpen and starting, Brown owns a 1.92 ERA in 51 2/3 innings this year. Could an All-Star Game nod follow in July?
“It’d be an honor,” Brown said. “I’m trying not to think about it too much. I mean, just thinking about the arc over the last two months to see that, it would be crazy. Just keep my head down and throw the ball.
“I was looking at my shoulder a lot last year, especially around this time, so it’s cool to just keep working. A ton of gratitude.”
Left-hander Jordan Wicks received an opportunity to make his first big-league starts since September 2024 when called up to take Cabrera’s spot in the rotation. The Cubs optioned Wicks to Iowa on Tuesday, swapping him out for righty reliever Tyler Ferguson to give the bullpen another arm until Cabrera starts this weekend. Wicks struggled in his two outings — losses in Pittsburgh and St. Louis — surrendering 11 runs on 13 hits in just 6 1/3 innings.
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