Heading into the 2025 MLB season, the Chicago Cubs’ rotation was considered a strength. However, injuries to key pitchers Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, and Javier Assad have drastically altered that outlook. While Imanaga and Assad are expected to return eventually, Steele is out for the season, leaving the rotation almost unrecognizable.
The situation has become so challenging that manager Craig Counsell is turning to a strategy he’s only used once this season: deploying an opener.
For Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Drew Pomeranz will start, with Ben Brown set to act as the bulk reliever. Counsell explained the reasoning behind the move:
“I think there’s things Ben can do better,” Counsell said. “When you use an opener instead of a traditional starter, you’re trying to improve the first inning matchup and then have a better pitcher handle the later innings, especially against hitters coming up for the second or third time.”
Counsell is clearly hoping this approach helps the team get off to a stronger start in games where Brown is pitching, and given the rotation’s current state, it’s an understandable move.
Deploying an opener in front of Ben Brown makes a ton of sense
Ben Brown’s overall numbers—a 6.39 ERA across 11 appearances and 10 starts—don’t look great on paper. But there’s a clear reason behind his struggles: he’s been especially vulnerable in the first inning. Brown has allowed 11 runs in those initial innings this season, including four runs against the very Reds team he’ll face again on Saturday, less than a week ago. He’s also issued eight walks and surrendered three home runs in the first inning alone, with opponents hitting .318 against him during that frame.
The picture is quite different in the second and third innings, where Brown has allowed just two earned runs over 20 innings—showing he settles down once he gets past the early hitters.
That’s why manager Craig Counsell is turning to an opener strategy. By having someone else start the game, Brown can avoid facing Cincinnati’s toughest hitters right away, giving him a chance to ease into the game and hopefully improve his effectiveness. Counsell’s hope is that Brown won’t have to face the Reds’ best batters more than twice, which could help him perform better overall.
Given how Brown has struggled to settle into games as a traditional starter, this move makes a lot of sense. Facing less potent competition early on could help him find his rhythm before the lineup turns over to the heavier hitters.
Craig Counsell must get creative with state of Cubs rotation
The Cubs’ rotation is definitely a mess right now, largely due to injuries. Outside of Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, there aren’t many reliable arms for Craig Counsell to lean on. Colin Rea’s performance on Friday against the Reds highlighted just how shaky the staff has become, as he had his worst start of the season.
While Rea hasn’t struggled as badly as Ben Brown in the first inning, he’s still allowed five runs over nine first innings this year—including two runs and a home run on Friday. That raises the question: could the Cubs benefit from using an opener in front of Rea as well?
With their two best starters out, the Cubs have little choice but to get creative. They’re already employing an opener before Brown, and used one for Cade Horton’s MLB debut too. This is exactly the kind of situation where Cubs fans need to see Counsell earn his keep—making smart moves and adjustments to keep the team competitive and maintain their hold on first place in the NL Central despite being shorthanded.