The Chicago Cubs have shined so far in 2025, carried by its stellar and diversified offense. But the team is definitely not without its issues.
The bullpen, for example, has been wildly inconsistent at times and is still lacking a true shutdown closer.
The starting rotation, meanwhile, has taken a battering. Ace starter Justin Steele is out for the season after elbow surgery. Co-ace Shota Imanaga is out with a tricky and unpredictable hamstring injury. Javier Assad is out until at least mid-season with oblique issues.
Big Losses In The Chicago Cubs Rotation
Apr 15, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
For those keeping track, this means that the Cubs are currently without 60% of their projected 2025 starting rotation.
To their credit, though, the starting corps has mostly held tough, anchored by veteran free agent acquisitions Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea. Jameson Taillon has been inconsistent at times, but seems to be turning things around.
But nobody believes that the Cubs can be a serious contender for a deep playoff run with the five starters they have right now. Specifically, with Ben Brown and rookie Cade Horton making up the back 40% of the rotation.
Some of those concerns would be resolved if/when Imanaga returns to the rotation and can stay healthy, although that return date keeps getting pushed back.
From Marquee Sports Network’s Taylor McGregor:
“Per Craig Counsell, Cubs Shota Imanaga will begin throwing off a mound towards the end of next week. He said his return will be ‘well into June.’”
Decisions Will Have To Be Made
The uncertainty is definitely not good news for the team, but the Japanese lefty should be back at some point. But even without his return, decisions have to be made about the back end of the rotation as the team will look to make a trade for a starting pitcher at some point before the trade deadline.
Cubs’ top pitching prospect, the 23-year-old Horton will likely get the benefit of every doubt when it comes to keeping his rotation gig.
Brown, on the other hand, looks to be the man in the proverbial hot seat.
The 25-year-old righty has been all over the place this season and has only pitched past 5.1 innings twice this year. His hefty 5.44 ERA serves as a testament to his inability to deliver a string of quality starts.
Ben Brown: On The Hot Seat?
Many are wondering aloud whether Brown’s days as a starter– especially in this potential pennant run– are done as soon as either Imanaga gets back or a trade gets made.
Per MLB Insider Bruce Levine on 670 The Score:
“Brown has the great fastball, a wonderful knuckle curve that he usually gets over for a strike…but…Can you live with a guy who sometimes gives you six innings, and other times it’s 3 2/3, four innings and 90 pitches? Can you live with that? Is the better version of Ben Brown in the back end of the bullpen helping you close out games, maybe two to three times a week, throwing a couple of innings?
…You’re going to need more starting pitching rather than less. So, I don’t know if there’s any answers in the minor leagues. I don’t know if [Jordan] Wicks is going to be part of that equation at all.”
In need of starting pitching, the Cubs’ focus has to fall on quality over quantity. And, although Brown’s shown flashes of brilliance this season (and last season, before it was shut down in June due to a neck injury), the team needs consistency and it needs results.
Brown will have a handful of starts to prove his worth, starting with one this Sunday against the divisional rival Cincinnati Reds. If he can’t turn heads and change minds, his rest-of-season role may be as a big arm coming out of the bullpen.
Chicago Cubs, 2025: Are they slump-proof?
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