Brown allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five over four innings Sunday versus the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Brown needed 35 pitches to complete a disastrous first inning during which he allowed three runs while facing all nine batters in the Padres lineup. He responded with consecutive scoreless innings but surrendered a two-out, two-run homer to Jackson Merrill in the fourth. Brown's shaky command returned after he showed some improvement his last time out. He hasn't looked comfortable as a starter yet and lines up for a difficult matchup on the road against the Dodgers next weekend.

Brown (1-1) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Brown wasn't exceptionally sharp in the outing, but he was backed by plenty of run support in the 18-3 Chicago victory. The right-hander threw 45 of 75 pitches for strikes and looked better than he did in his season debut, when he gave up three runs (two earned) over 2.2 frames out of the bullpen and took the loss against the Dodgers in Tokyo, Japan. Brown walked three batters in that brief appearance, so it was a step in the right direction for him to issue two free passes across five innings Monday.

The Cubs informed Brown on Tuesday that he will begin the season as the club's No. 5 starter, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old took the loss out of the bullpen in the season opener in Japan last week as he surrendered three runs (two earned) across 2.2 innings, but he apparently showed enough during camp to win the rotation spot. Brown started in eight of his 15 appearances as a rookie last year and had a 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB across 55.1 innings, and he may need to perform similarly this year to retain the rotation spot since Javier Assad (oblique) will potentially return early in the season.

Brown remains in the mix for the Cubs' No. 5 rotation spot along with Colin Rea, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brown took the loss in relief in Chicago's season opener in Tokyo on Tuesday, but he could slot into the rotation once the Cubs begin the domestic portion of their season later this week. The veteran Rea seems like the favorite for the role, with Brown shifting to long relief, but manager Craig Counsell said he is still considering both pitchers. Javier Assad (oblique) could ultimately reclaim the spot once he returns, but either Brown or Rea should see a short-term boost in fantasy value, depending on whichever player is starting.

Brown (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Brown had an eventful 2025 debut, as he summoned from the bullpen to replace Shota Imanaga, who exited after tossing four scoreless, no-hit innings. Brown was able to miss some bats, but the lefty also struggled with his control, which was a bit of an issue last season, when he walked 8.6 percent of the batters he faced. Brown could be a starting option for the Cubs at some point this season, though his usage in the opener suggests he'll serve as a long man out of the bullpen for the time being.

The Cubs are expected to keep Brown stretched out as a starting pitcher rather than move him to the bullpen at the start of the season, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brown might be on the outside looking in for a spot in the Cubs' Opening Day rotation, but it sounds as though the club will send Brown to Triple-A Iowa to stay stretched out rather than keep him in the big-league bullpen if he doesn't claim a starting role. Even if the 25-year-old begins the year in the minors, he still has a good chance to see significant action in the Cubs' rotation.

Brown allowed three runs on four hits across 3.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Royals. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Brown picked up the start when Justin Steele (illness) was scratched before the contest. Brown is competing as a starter this spring, and while the righty has tallied nine strikeouts in just eight innings so far in Cactus League play, he's also allowed six runs on a whopping 13 hits. The 25-year-old will have to be a bit sharper if he wants to earn a rotation spot. Brown will still likely begin the year in the bullpen, though he could pick up some starts down the road if he performs well in a relief role.

Manager Craig Counsell said Brown has hit the ground running in camp and he's being evaluated as a starting pitcher, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

"Ultimately, you're trying to develop starters," Counsell said. "That's really valuable. The elite back-end guy, they're super-valuable, too. It's knowing that we got a good pitcher there and figuring out what to do. That's what we'll have to, at some point, make decisions on. But right now, it's a starter for Ben." It's looking more and more likely that Javier Assad (oblique) will have to start the year on the injured list, in which case it would be one of Brown, Colin Rea or Jordan Wicks opening the year as the Cubs' fifth starter. Brown obviously has the highest fantasy ceiling of that bunch, but he's still mostly a two-pitch guy, although his top two pitches (fastball, curveball) are easily plus and his curveball, which is also called a "death ball," is one of the best curveballs in all of baseball. He's been working on his changeup this spring, and if he's clearly the best option, it would be hard for the Cubs to exclude Brown and his strikeout stuff from a starting rotation that had the 25th-best strikeout rate (21.1 percent) in baseball last season.

While Brown saw some time in the rotation last season, he could be a full-time bullpen option for the Cubs in 2025, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

Brown made 15 appearances for the Cubs last year, including eight starts, and posted a 3.58 ERA and 64 strikeouts across 55.1 innings. It's a small sample, but the 25-year-old flashed some potential, and he displayed a fastball that clocked in at an average of 96.5 mph. There's some belief that Brown's velocity could tick up if he shifts to a full-time bullpen role, which could make him an interesting weapon for Chicago. The righty will have to compete for a job in spring training, though he does have some intriguing upside heading into the season.

Brown (neck) has been cleared for a normal offseason throwing program, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

Brown's final appearance of the 2024 season came in early June, as he was eventually shut down with a benign area of concern in his neck. However, after recently undergoing a scan on his neck he has been given the go-ahead to proceed with his regular offseason routine. Brown could be in the mix for an Opening Day rotation spot with the Cubs.