Cubs seeking remedy for young pitcher Ben Brown’s slow starts
The Cincinnati Reds love scoring first-inning runs against the Cubs. They've piled up 11 in four games between the teams this season.
Meanwhile, Ben Brown has struggled early in his last two starts. So manager Craig Counsell admitted the Cubs will consider using an opener for Brown on Saturday at Wrigley Field. Drew Pomeranz will get the start, according to WSCR’s Bruce Levine.
When word trickled out that the Cubs starting pitcher was listed as TBA for Saturday, reporters crowded around Brown's locker before the series opener, but he acknowledged he's planning to pitch in the game, just maybe not in the first inning as he tries to find ways to reach peak performance from the first pitch.
“Execution can be a little sharper,” Counsell said. “The last game's a good example — the first inning, he just gave away the first 10 pitches of the game, essentially. There's two guys on base and you've got a tough inning ahead of you.”
At Cincinnati last Sunday, Brown walked the first two batters he faced on nine pitches. One was technically wiped out by a fielder's choice, but the two walks led to two runs and Brown capped the 4-run first inning by letting a runner score on a wild pitch.
In his previous start at Miami, Brown gave up home runs to the first two batters he faced, on 3-0 and 3-1 counts. Once he settled in, Brown turned the tide quickly. He retired 12 in a row at Miami and nine straight in Cincinnati before giving up 4-run fifth innings in both games.
On Friday he talked about how the long, laborious first innings came back to haunt him, and being amped up at the start of games usually hurts more than it helps.
“The hardest innings for a starter are going to be the first inning and the sixth, or the seventh, right?” Counsell said. “You haven't been on the mound in competition for five days. It requires you to kind of lock in immediately against the other team's best hitters, right?”
New reliever debuts:
The Cubs' annual, ongoing search for bullpen help continued with the addition of left-hander Genesis Cabrera. He made his Cubs debut in Friday's sixth inning, walking the first batter he faced, then retiring four in a row with three strikeouts.
Cabrera, 28, has spent seven years in the majors after debuting with the Cardinals in 2019. He had a 3.52 ERA in six appearances with the Mets earlier this season.
“We're going through a stretch of the season right now where I think left-handers are going to help against this team, against the next team (Washington),” manager Craig Counsell said. “So just trying to put together the best roster we can every day.
“It doesn't matter if it's the offseason, May 28th, June 28th, August 28th — you're trying to add pitching or develop pitching.”
The Cubs cleared a roster spot by designating reliever Brooks Kriske for assignment. He'll likely be welcomed back at Iowa if he clears waivers.
Around the horn:
Former Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Friday, likely with the intention of sending him back to Triple-A. After a good start to the season, Mervis hit .111 in May. He has 7 home runs but hasn't hit one since April 23. …
Former Cubs infielder Nicky Lopez, a Naperville native, signed a minor-league deal with Arizona this week … One-time Cub Nick Martini, a Prairie Ridge High School graduate, was designated for assignment by Colorado. The outfielder hit .225 in 43 games for the Rockies.