Free agent pickups: Brown, Mead making the most of...
Key takeaways
- Through five fill-in starts, however, Brown has certainly proven productive out of the rotation, with a 1.73 ERA, an 0.85 WHIP and a 29.0% strikeout rate.
- What has made a difference for Brown thus far has been the sinker he introduced during spring training, one that he has thrown 19.4% of the time while generating 4.0 Statcast runs above average.
- Brown has had his moments of glory previously -- most of which have been surrounded by periods of inconsistency -- but he finally seems to be finding his way at the 28-start, 213-IP stage of his MLB career.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
With injuries striking the Cubs' rotation this season, Ben Brown has risen to the occasion and is a great fantasy baseball pickup this week. AP Photo/Scott Kane Tristan H. Cockcroft Jun 1, 2026, 04:00 PM ETClose Tristan H. Cockcroft is senior writer for fantasy baseball and football at ESPN. Tristan is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. He is also a two-time LABR and three-time Tout Wars champion.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Injuries have struck the Chicago Cubs' rotation hard this season, from Cade Horton's UCL repair with InternalBrace in April to Matthew Boyd's two stints on the IL thus far (first for a biceps strain, and currently for meniscus surgery) to Edward Cabrera's current blister issues. Fortunately for them, one of their emerging youngsters has stepped up to admirably fill in the gaps.
Ben Brown, SP/RP, Cubs (27.3% rostered in ESPN leagues): A member of my preseason "Kings of Command," Brown's path to fantasy stardom in 2026 seemed more likely to come out of the bullpen, with his limited repertoire perhaps better suited for short relief and/or Daniel Palencia's 2025 breakthrough turning out to be a one-hit wonder. Through five fill-in starts, however, Brown has certainly proven productive out of the rotation, with a 1.73 ERA, an 0.85 WHIP and a 29.0% strikeout rate. His 75 fantasy points during that time are tied for 10th among all pitchers.
What has made a difference for Brown thus far has been the sinker he introduced during spring training, one that he has thrown 19.4% of the time while generating 4.0 Statcast runs above average. While it's a pitch he typically throws to right-handed batters, (thus failing to address a lack of a dominant "out pitch" to use against left-handers), it has made him a near lights-out pitcher against same-handed bats.