Cubs announce Ben Brown is out for the season. What’s next for the bullpen?
CHICAGO — As Craig Counsell searches for answers to stabilize his suddenly rocky bullpen, one name who won’t be rejoining the group this season is Ben Brown.
“Ben is going to be out for the remainder of the season,” Counsell said before Thursday’s game. “After consulting with doctors, it’s just more rest. He’s just gotta rest more. This is a bone injury. There’s healing, but just not enough to allow the discomfort to go away. We just need to spend more time healing.”
The news didn’t come as a surprise by this point, but it wasn’t long ago that Brown seemed to be nearing a return to the team. Brown went on the injured list June 24 with a stress reaction in his neck. The injury was a recurrence of an issue that ended Brown’s 2024 season prematurely.
As Brown ramped back up this summer, he and the team were encouraged by his progress. The righty was on the verge of being sent for a rehab assignment, but he felt discomfort in his neck toward the end of an outing during a bridge game at the Cubs facility in Arizona on Aug. 26.
“I think the frustrating thing for Ben is that this is multiple times where this has knocked him out for a long period of time,” Counsell said. “The answers are rest — which is a good answer, but sometimes a frustrating answer because athletes want to do something to fix things — and there’s just not much to do.”
Counsell said imaging was done again, and although the area is healing, there are still signs of an “injury.” The original plan, as Counsell pointed out, was that Brown would move forward once there wasn’t discomfort. He did that successfully for a stretch, but the return of pain meant the only answer now is to allow the injury to completely heal.
Ben Brown had a 4-2 record with one save and a 1.85 ERA in 20 appearances, including eight starts, this season. (Patrick Gorski / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
Is there concern this could linger even longer or that it could impact his ability to pitch in the future?
“It’s an injury that’s happened multiple times,” Counsell said. “I think that’s a concern. But in the end, we’re going to get to spring next year, and Ben’s going to be a healthy player.”
How long it will take to heal and when Brown can start a throwing program are unknowns. Counsell was also unsure if correcting or altering mechanics could solve the issue.
“These guys throw hard because their body moves a certain way,” Counsell said. “He can’t invent another way to do that.”
After years of tantalizing the Cubs with his talent but struggling to get results, Brown broke out this season, thriving in every role the team gave him. Brown began the season in the bullpen and became one of Counsell’s most trusted relievers. Injuries to starting pitchers prompted a move to the rotation, and Brown, armed with a new sinker and adjusted changeup in addition to his four-seamer and breaking ball, dominated in that role, too.
He posted a 1.85 ERA with a 24.5 percent strikeout rate and 7.2 percent walk rate over 68 innings this season. His 2.0 WAR (according to FanGraphs) still leads the team’s pitching staff. His return could have bolstered a bullpen that has suddenly found Counsell searching for answers.
The Cubs’ relievers haven’t been dominant this season, but the group has gotten results and as recently as two weeks ago had an ERA of 3.85 (10th in baseball). But they’ve blown numerous leads over the past dozen games and have been one of the worst units in baseball over that span (5.86 ERA).
In Wednesday’s loss, the team’s most consistent reliever, Jacob Webb, took a liner off his right forearm and exited the game. X-rays were negative, and Webb had a light throwing session on the field before Thursday’s game that went well.
Although there doesn’t seem to be major concern for Webb, an IL stint hasn’t been ruled out.
“He’s sore just right where it hit him,” Counsell said. “Beyond that, not much. The concern is as the days go on, the swelling is going to go into his hand. It’s his throwing arm, so how does it affect him? We’re hopeful we can avoid the IL. We got some days to play with, but if it extends longer than a few days, we’ll have to consider it.”
Counsell also gave updates on several pitchers who are on the mend and could impact the team down the stretch.
Counsell said Shelby Miller is “getting there” and will pitch again Friday. He still hasn’t pitched a back-to-back, but that’s expected soon, perhaps this weekend. Edward Cabrera will get his second rehab outing Friday as well. Neither is far from helping the big-league club, but the same was said of Brown not long ago.
Justin Steele returned to the mound for a real game for the first time since he went down with an elbow injury last season. Steele tossed 1 2/3 innings Wednesday night with Triple-A Iowa, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking none.
“Everything went well,” Counsell said. “It was a good night. Obviously, it’s a first night back. Just happy for Justin to be back in action and it’s gotta feel good after 18 months, essentially, of no competition.”
The Cubs can’t rely on Steele, though, to help a bullpen that needs to right the ship. In fact, as nice as it would be to get Cabrera or Miller up to the big leagues, both real possibilities over the next week to 10 days, the focus has to be on correcting whatever is wrong with the current group. Getting Webb back, along with making sure Daniel Palencia and Ryan Zeferjahn — both of whom have bat-missing abilities and have shown they can dominate but have struggled recently — can find their footing in the final month is a priority for Counsell.
“The bullpen is a ‘today’ question, so we’re worried about the guys we’ve got right now,” Counsell said. “Those other guys have jobs to do, and that’s to continue pitching. They’re coming off injuries. They have to answer health questions still, recovery questions still. Those are different questions than the guys here are answering.”