Ben Brown

ActiveIL

Chicago Cubs · Pitcher

Age 266' 6" · 210 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

After a rough 2025 season marked by injury and ineffectiveness, this 26-year-old right-hander shows significant promise early in 2026 with a dramatic improvement in ERA (1.85) and WHIP (0.94) over just 68 innings. His strikeout rate remains solid at 65 K through the young season, suggesting his stuff is intact despite the down year, and the elite control metrics indicate he's found his form once again. The main concern is whether he can sustain this level over a full season or maintain regular rotation status, as his limited innings and the lingering questions from 2025 mean there's considerable injury risk. For fantasy purposes, Brown offers intriguing upside as a potential back-end starter if the Cubs give him consistent run, though managers should proceed cautiously given his volatility and recent history.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2024	Chicago Cubs	15	8	1	3	0	3.58	1.08	64	55.1	19
2025	Chicago Cubs	25	15	5	8	1	5.92	1.44	121	106.1	32
2026	Chicago Cubs	20	8	4	2	1	1.85	0.94	65	68.0	19
Career	Totals	60	31	10	13	2	4.15	1.21	250	229.2	70

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2017	GCL Phillies	10	0	0	0	2.57	1.43	10	14.0	6
2018	2 teams▼	12	10	4	4	3.65	1.27	65	56.2	20
2019	Lakewood BlueClaws	4	1	0	0	0.00	1.02	20	13.2	3
2021	2 teams▼	7	4	1	0	6.19	1.38	17	16	8
2022	2 teams▼	23	22	6	5	3.38	1.17	149	104	36
2023	2 teams▼	26	19	8	8	4.27	1.40	130	92.2	57
2025	Iowa Cubs	3	2	1	0	0.82	0.64	8	11.0	2
Career	Totals	85	58	20	17	3.56	1.26	399	308	132

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo96.4 mph

Avg Spin2177 rpm

Whiff %27.3%

K %24.5%

BB %7.2%

Hard Hit %43.3%

Barrel %7.3%

xERA3.19

xBA Against0.222

xSLG Against0.335

BA Against0.186

SLG Against0.248

GB%44.7%

FB%25.1%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2024

Chicago Cubs

3.58

1.08

55.1

2025

Chicago Cubs

5.92

1.44

121

106.1

2026

Chicago Cubs

1.85

0.94

68.0

Career

Totals

4.15

1.21

250

229.2

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2017

GCL Phillies

2.57

1.43

14.0

2018

2 teams▼

3.65

1.27

56.2

2019

Lakewood BlueClaws

0.00

1.02

13.2

2021

2 teams▼

6.19

1.38

2022

2 teams▼

3.38

1.17

149

104

2023

2 teams▼

4.27

1.40

130

92.2

2025

Iowa Cubs

0.82

0.64

11.0

Career

Totals

3.56

1.26

399

308

132