Craig Counsell's Strategy Worked Out to Perfection

Cubs manager decided to use left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz as the opener against the Reds on Saturday and the strategy worked to perfection. The veteran pitcher retired the side in order to begin the game, but more importantly Ben Brown pitched six shutout innings after entering the game in the second inning.

It was the second time the Cubs used an opener in 2025, with the first being on May 10, when Cade Horton made his MLB debut against the Mets after Brad Keller pitched the opening inning. This time around Brown had delivered his best performance of the year and the most dominant he's looked since pitching seven no-hit innings against the Brewers last year.

Brown only gave up one hit to the Reds on Saturday, while striking out nine and walking one. Not only was Brown mowing down Cincinnati's lineup, he was efficient too, throwing 77 pitches in his six innings of work.

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Desperate times call for desperate measures. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has opted to begin Saturday's game against the Reds with left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz, who will serve as the team's opener. The Cubs are getting creative in hopes of masking Ben Brown's first-inning struggles so far in 2025.

Brown is still expected to pitch the bulk of Saturday's game, but he won't be the official starter for the Cubs. Counsell confirmed the decision following Friday's 6-2 loss to the Reds in the series opener at Wrigley Field.

Pomeranz has been amazing since he was added to the Cubs roster back in April. He was acquired in a minor trade with the Mariners on April 21, when the Cubs sent cash to get the veteran lefty.

The 36-year-old made his Cubs debut on April 25, making his return to MLB for the first time since pitching for the Padres in 2021. He's thrown in 14 games with the Cubs and still has not given up a run in 12.2 innings. Pomeranz has struck out 14 batters, while walking three and has a 0.55 WHIP, only allowing four hits so far in his Cubs career.

However, this move is all about Brown. The right-hander has posted a 6.38 ERA in 48 innings as a starter for the Cubs this year after recording a 3.23 ERA in 39 innings as a starter in 2024. A big issue for Brown in 2025, has been the first inning, allowing at least one run in the opening frame in half of his 10 starts. The first-inning troubles have been especially evident during the month of May.

Ben Brown's 1st Inning (last 4 starts)
May 7: 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
May 13: 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
May 19: 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
May 23: 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

In his most recent start against the Reds last Sunday in Cincinnati, Brown gave up four runs in the first, but then settled in. The righty pitched three perfect innings before he was once again roughed up by the Reds' offense in the fifth, which ultimately ended his outing after 4.1 innings.

A similar thing happened against the Marlins on May 19. Brown surrendered back-to-back home runs to the first two batters of the game and then retired 12 in a row. Then, the fifth inning came around and Brown couldn't get out of it, allowing four more runs to score.

The Cubs may continue to use an opener for future Brown starts and they're hoping that in the meantime the young pitcher can get back on track.

Via Marquee Sports Network.

“I’m getting so excited, so pumped up to pitch I’m losing 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.

“So, I have been working a lot with coaches and trainers, just trying to navigate throughout the process to make it a little bit easier for me.”

“Without putting too much pressure on it, when I go out there in the first inning, my first inning of pitching, I’m not going to be in panic mode. I think that’s step one,” Brown said. “There’s a little bit of an anomaly here. I’m going to be OK; I’ve done it my entire career. And then it’s like ‘Hey, what are some things we can do to kind of tone down the intensity?’”

The Cubs are currently without Shōta Imanaga in the starting rotation and Justin Steele is out the entire year after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. The Cubs need Ben Brown to step up. For now, the team is hoping a step back can help reset Brown's mindset on the mound.