NEW YORK -- The Cubs’ rotation took another hit on Wednesday, when Chicago placed right-hander Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list -- retroactive to Sunday -- because of a left neck strain, a problem he has been dealing with dating back to June 13 when he faced the Giants in San Francisco.
Brown managed to pitch Friday in Chicago's 16-2 win over the Blue Jays, throwing six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. But he had a tough time throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday at Citi Field. Brown then went back to Chicago to be re-evaluated by doctors in the area.
The neck injury is nothing new to Brown, as he spent time on the IL in 2024 because of a left neck strain.
“It’s the left side of his neck. It’s the same area,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s probably not as bad in his eyes, but it is a concern.”
For the season, Brown has appeared in 20 games (eight starts) and is 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA. He is also third on the team in wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference (2.1).
In Brown’s place, the Cubs recalled right-hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. This season with Chicago, Hollowell has appeared in three games and allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The news about Brown comes on the same day the Cubs put right-hander Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list after he strained both his left hamstring and left adductor during Chicago's 9-6 win Tuesday night. The Cubs already have Jameson Taillon (left hamstring strain), Cade Horton (right UCL surgery) and Justin Steele (left elbow flexor strain) on the IL. In a bit of good news, left-hander Matthew Boyd is expected to come off the IL and pitch in Thursday’s series finale against New York.
“We are going to be piecing it together. That’s how it’s going to work,” Counsell said. “Getting through this time is the critical part. We do have a couple of days off … that will help us. But this weekend, it’s going to be a bit of a challenge in terms of figuring out what we are going to do.”