Ben Brown might've found his sweet spot on Cubs' pitching staff — in bullpen

Michael

May 3, 2026 - 21:00

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Ben Brown might've found his sweet spot on Cubs' pitching staff — in bullpen

Right-hander Ben Brown has appeared in 11 games this season, all in relief and all for more than one inning. But the timing of his appearances have varied. He has entered games anywhere from the fourth inning to the eighth.

He began entering in the eighth only recently, however. He earned his second career save Saturday, pitching two innings in a 2-0 victory against the Diamondbacks. On Wednesday, he entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth and allowed only one run to score before getting the first two outs in the ninth of a 5-4 victory against the Padres.

Brown’s ERA has plummeted from 5.40 after his first appearance March 26 to 1.82. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 8.

So for what part of the game is he best-suited?

‘‘It suits me whatever position I’m in; I’m thankful for it,’’ Brown told the Sun-Times on Sunday. ‘‘I think the long-term goal is to get back in the rotation. But for right now, I’m super-happy where I am.’’

Brown hasn’t started since July 27 of last season, when he allowed one run in five innings with four strikeouts in the Cubs’ 5-4 victory against the White Sox. It was his last of 15 starts last season, one in which he still was trying to figure things out. He finished with a 5.92 ERA in 106⅓ innings and made only one playoff appearance (two innings) for the pitching-starved Cubs.

Now he’s excelling in critical, late-game spots — just in time for closer Daniel Palencia to return. So maybe Brown really is best-suited for wherever manager Craig Counsell uses him, although that isn’t expected to include starting anytime soon, barring injury. He appears to have learned from his struggles.

‘‘Those steps, to me, are the result of failure,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It’s a cliché, but in sports, the best part is that you learn from failing. That’s as much as anything what’s happening. He’s made some improvements how he processes things in the moment, most importantly, so that you’re back on track instead of [after] five pitches you’re back on track.’’

Brown, however, wouldn’t mind being on the mound to finish another game.

‘‘That’s a special moment,’’ he said. ‘‘Get to celebrate with my teammates. I’m eager to be able to do it again one day.’’

Palencia activated from IL

The Cubs’ bullpen slowly is being put back together. They activated Palencia (strained left oblique) from the injured list after he made one rehab appearance Friday with Triple-A Iowa, in which he reached 102 mph. He threw 19 pitches, 14 for strikes, in two-thirds of an inning.

‘‘I feel great, excited to get back,’’ Palencia told the Sun-Times. ‘‘I was just trying to feel good [in the rehab outing]. And the first one that I threw, I feel everything was [good]. I started to feel myself.’’

To make room for Palencia on the active roster, the Cubs designated right-hander Yacksel Rios for assignment. Rios made one appearance, pitching 1‰ innings with two strikeouts April 26 at the Dodgers.

Home sweet home

With their 8-4 victory against the Diamondbacks, the Cubs improved to 14-5 at Wrigley Field, matching their best start there (2016) in the last 40 years.

‘‘Our game doesn’t change, regardless of where we play,’’ said left-hander Matthew Boyd, who allowed two runs and four hits in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts. ‘‘But when you get to play at Wrigley and you get to play in front of our fans, the energy in this ballpark’s amazing. This is the best place to play in the big leagues.’’

The Cubs also are 15-3 since April 14, the best record in the majors during that span.