The Chicago Cubs are currently 35-22 and have a three-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
After losing Justin Steele for the season due to left UCL revision surgery and Shota Imanaga until mid-to-late June due to a mild left hamstring strain, the Cubs have had to rely heavily on its starting pitching depth.
Veteran right-hander Colin Rea had a great start to the season but has struggled in three of his last five starts, including back-to-back losses to the Cincinnati Reds where he gave up six earned runs in both starts.
Rookie Cade Horton has looked better with each appearance and the Cubs have won all four games he has pitched.
Young fireballer Ben Brown has struggled this season, going 3-3 with a 6.39 ERA in 11 appearances, with the last 10 being starts.
Brown throws two pitches, a four-seam fastball that sits around 96 miles per hour and a knuckle-curveball. He is developing a changeup, but he doesn’t throw it much during games.
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The problem for Brown and the Cubs, besides only throwing two pitches most of the time, is the first inning.
In 10 starts, Brown has a 9.90 ERA and a 2.20 WHIP in the first inning. He has allowed 14 hits, eight walks and 11 earned runs in the first frame, and opponents have a .318 batting average.
“I’m getting so excited, so pumped up to pitch I’m losing kind of sight of what I do best,” Brown said. “And it’s like a mental (thing) not being able to throw strikes. There’s a real dynamic to the first inning of baseball games that is different than other innings.”
To try and alleviate the damage, the Cubs are experimenting with an opener for Saturday’s game against the Reds. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz will get the start, who is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 14 appearances this season.
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