RADIO
Surgery Hasn't Been Ruled Out for Ben Brown
Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown (neck), whose 2026 season ended in June due to a recurring neck injury, has not been cleared to throw, and surgery has not been ruled out, according to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. At a minimum, Brown's short-term future is in question, which is yet another reason why pitching is Chicago's No. 1 priority this offseason. A neck injury also caused Brown to miss a big chunk of time back in 2024. The 27-year-old former 33rd-round pick in 2017 by the Philadelphia Phillies was excellent when available this past season, but he appeared in only 20 games (eight starts) for the Cubbies before being shut down. Brown went 4-2 with a career-best 1.85 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 19 walks in 68 innings pitched. In 2025, he had a career-best 121 strikeouts and 32 walks in 106 1/3 frames. If he is forced to go under the knife, Brown almost certainly will not be ready for the start of the 2027 campaign, and it could force him to miss most, if not all, of next season. Because of Brown's health issues, it would not be a surprise to see the Cubs convert him into a full-time reliever.
Source: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma
Source: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma
Cubs' Matthew Boyd Declines His Player Option
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd has declined his player option and will become a free agent this offseason, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports. Boyd was 10-5 this season with a 3.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 96 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings pitched. Boyd joins teammate Clay Holmes in declining his option and becomes a free agent with fellow Cubs starting pitchers Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson. The Cubs could look to revamp their starting rotation this offseason depending on how many of their free agents they bring back for next season.
Source: ESPN, Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN, Jesse Rogers
Clay Holmes Declines his Player Option for 2027
Chicago Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes declined his player options and has become a free agent, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Holmes joins Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, and David Peterson as free agents as the Cubs look for a rebuild of their pitching staff this offseason. Rogers guesses that one or two of the five names listed could possibly return to the Cubs this offseason. The pitching rotation will likely have a new look for the Cubs whenever baseball does return. Holmes was 6-8 combined between the Mets and Cubs this year with a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, while Boyd went 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
Source: Jesse Rogers, ESPN
Source: Jesse Rogers, ESPN
Cubs Expected to Have Interest in Keeping Clay Holmes
The Athletic's Patrick Mooney writes that the Chicago Cubs are expected to have interest in keeping right-hander Clay Holmes for the 2027 season despite his disappointing end to the year after the team acquired him in a trade from the New York Mets. Holmes has a $12 million player option for next season. If Holmes turns down his option and becomes a free agent, the Cubs could once again become desperate for pitching reinforcements. "In so many ways, Clay fits our team really well," president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. "He puts the ball on the ground." Holmes had an 8.24 ERA in four September starts for the Cubbies, walking 15 batters in 19 2/3 innings after posting a 1.55 ERA in five August starts after the trade. His lack of command down the stretch dropped the Cubs out of the top Wild-Card spot in the National League, and they were swept by the San Diego Padres in two games in the Wild-Card series. Before the Cubs acquired Holmes, he had not pitched for the Mets since May 15 due to a fractured right fibula. Holmes could bounce back with better health in 2027 in Chicago or somewhere else, but he will also be turning 34 years of age.
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Kevin Gausman Starting in Game 2 Versus Padres
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday at Petco Park, according to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. Gausman has been cleared to make the start after injuring his left (non-throwing) shoulder while diving to make a play at third base in his final regular-season start last week, and he will be tasked with helping the Cubs avoid elimination in the three-game series after they lost 9-0 on Tuesday night in Game 1. The 35-year-old veteran and two-time All-Star went 9-12 overall in 2026 with a 4.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 184 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings pitched over his 32 starts with the Cubbies and Toronto Blue Jays. Gausman pitched slightly worse after being traded to Chicago at the early-August deadline, going 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 57:11 K:BB in his nine starts covering 50 1/3 innings. His lone start against the Padres this year came with Toronto on July 12, when he gave up three earned runs in six innings for a no-decision with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Source: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma
Source: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma
Kevin Gausman Good to Go for Wild-Card Series
Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) is on the team's Wild-Card roster for the series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park this week, which would indicate that his left-shoulder injury is no longer an issue, according to Jared Wyllys of CHGO Sports. Gausman injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder while attempting to make a diving play at third base in his final start of the regular season last Wednesday, but he appears to be fine now. The Cubs are sending left-hander Matthew Boyd out for Game 1 of the series against the Padres on Tuesday, but Gausman could be tapped to take the ball in Game 2 on Wednesday or, if necessary, in Game 3 on Thursday. The 35-year-old veteran began the 2026 season with the Toronto Blue Jays but was acquired by the Cubs at the trade deadline to add depth to their banged-up starting rotation. The two-time All-Star was inconsistent in his nine starts for Chicago, going 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 57:11 K:BB in 50 1/3 innings. He faced the Padres in San Diego while still with the Blue Jays on July 12 and allowed three earned runs with three walks and eight strikeouts in six innings for a no-decision.
Source: CHGO Sports - Jared Wyllys
Source: CHGO Sports - Jared Wyllys
Matthew Boyd to Start Game 1 Against Padres on Tuesday
Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd will start Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series on Tuesday against the hosting San Diego Padres at Petco Park, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. He will be opposed by Padres right-hander Michael King in a rematch of last year's National League Wild-Card Series at Wrigley Field, a series the Cubs won in three games. The 35-year-old Boyd went 10-5 this year for the Cubbies with a 3.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings pitched across 22 games. Boyd allowed 10 earned runs in his first three starts of September against the Milwaukee Brewers (twice) and Pittsburgh Pirates, but he cleaned it up in his final two starts of the regular season with two earned runs allowed, four walks, and seven strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins. The crafty veteran pitched well against SD last year in the postseason, but that was not the case in his two regular-season starts against them in 2026, as he allowed eight earned runs on 16 hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out six in nine innings.
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Kevin Gausman Unsure When he Might Pitch Again
Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) said his left shoulder is still sore from the diving play he made at third base in the loss to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Gausman is getting treatment, but he would not predict his availability to pitch in the wild-card series next week. The 35-year-old is now up in the air as an option to pitch for the Cubbies in Game 1 of the wild-card series next week against an undetermined opponent. In his final regular-season start of 2026 on Wednesday night, Gausman allowed two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision. He had a 4.38 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 23 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays to begin the year before being traded to the Cubs at the deadline in early August. Gausman was not quite as good in nine starts with Chicago, going 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 57:11 K:BB in 50 1/3 innings pitched.
Source: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
Source: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
Kevin Gausman Comes out of Wednesday's Start With Shoulder Soreness
Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) came up wincing and in some apparent pain after diving to tag a runner out at third base during his start on Wednesday at Wrigley Field against the visiting Miami Marlins, according to Tony Andracki. Gausman was pulled from the game, but he was also at 101 pitches on the night. Manager Craig Counsell said that Gausman's left shoulder got extended awkwardly and "grabbed on him" on the play. He is now sore, and the Cubs will see how he feels in the next couple of days. Gausman is lined up to potentially start Game 1 or 2 next week in the wild-card series in the playoffs. The good news for the Cubs is that the injury is to the veteran's non-throwing arm as well. He came one out shy of a quality start for his fantasy managers on Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out seven in 5 2/3 frames for a no-decision. The 35-year-old veteran came into his final start of the regular season with a 9-12 record, 4.55 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts in 172 innings pitched in 2026 with the Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays.
Source: Tony Andracki
Source: Tony Andracki
Justin Steele Completes Two-Inning Rehab Outing
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) threw a 33-pitch, two-inning rehab outing on Friday for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. This was his fifth appearance since beginning his rehab assignment and the fourth that has been two innings in length. Arguably his most impressive outing yet, Steele walked the first batter of the game before striking out the side. He would finish with five strikeouts in total while not allowing a hit. While the velocity on his fastball sat at 90.2 miles per hour, it was his slider that impressed the most, generating four whiffs. It's unclear what lies ahead for him, as the Cubs are in the middle of a race for the Wild Card. While they have a comfortable lead on the teams chasing them, they do need to prepare for the postseason, and Steele returning to the Cubs may not be in the cards. What's clear is that he is feeling much better than he has in quite some time, and any return to the Cubs would likely be for a peace-of-mind appearance to allow him to enter the postseason on a healthy note, giving him the opportunity to work on coming back even stronger next spring. Fantasy managers should not expect much from him down the stretch, but those in dynasty leagues should take note and add him while they can.
Source: Jason Kempf
Source: Jason Kempf
Justin Steele to Throw Bullpen on Sunday
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen in Chicago in front of the team's pitching coaches on Sunday. This will give the team a chance to get a good, hard look at the 31-year-old as he continues to work hard toward returning to the mound for the Cubs in 2026. From there, it has been decided that he will throw at least one more outing for Triple-A Iowa, at which time a decision will likely be made regarding what lies ahead. Over three rehab appearances thus far, Steele has thrown 5.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. The good news is that he has recorded six strikeouts and has not walked any batters, backing the fact that he is still working through some rust. If and when he does return this year, it will be as a reliever, as there is not enough time for him to build himself back up to a starter's workload. As such, his fantasy value is minimal.
Source: Jared Wyllys
Source: Jared Wyllys
Ben Brown Will Not Return This Season
Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. This should not come as a huge surprise, since Brown has been sidelined on the injured list since June with a stress reaction in his neck, something that he has dealt with in the past. The 26-year-old former 33rd-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 will finish his 2026 campaign with a 4-2 record, a sharp 1.85 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, one save, 65 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 68 innings pitched across 20 appearances (eight starts) for the Cubbies. Brown has good stuff and plenty of potential, but because he has been unable to stay healthy, his future could be as a full-time reliever in 2027 and beyond. In 25 outings (15 starts) last year for Chicago, Brown had a career-worst 5.92 ERA (4.08 FIP) but also 121 strikeouts and 32 walks in 106 1/3 innings pitched. Barring another setback with his neck injury, he should be ready in plenty of time for spring training in 2027, barring a league lockout.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Edward Cabrera to Begin Throwing on Saturday
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) will resume his throwing program on Saturday, according to Bruce Levine. Cabrera has been sidelined since the middle of August due to a finger blister. When healthy, Cabrera has struggled this season with a 5.68 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 67/32 K/BB ratio across 15 starts with the Cubs. Given his durability issues and lack of success as a starter, the Cubs plan to bring Cabrera back as a reliever for the rest of the season. He shouldn't need a long rehab assignment if he's coming back as a relief pitcher. His fantasy value will be limited unless he's going to pitch in a high-leverage role, which is unlikely.
Source: Bruce Levine
Source: Bruce Levine
Clay Holmes Re-Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Clay Holmes missed nearly three months this season after suffering a fractured fibula in mid-May. However, the 33-year-old has been highly effective when healthy, recording a 5-6 record with a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 68 2/3 innings (12 starts). Holmes has also pitched well since being acquired by Chicago from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, pitching to a 2.81 ERA across his first 16 innings (three starts) with the Cubs. Holmes is a ground-ball specialist who pitches to contact, so fantasy managers should not expect high-end production in the strikeout department. However, the veteran right-hander's pitch efficiency allows him to work deep into games, which gives him a good chance to rack up wins while pitching in Chicago. In leagues where he is not already rostered, Holmes profiles as an obvious waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kevin Gausman Leaves Tuesday's Start with Hand Cramp
Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman (hand) was pulled in the fifth inning of his start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday due to a hand cramp, per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Gausman allowed seven hits and three earned runs while recording five strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings before exiting the game. Gausman has struggled since being traded to the Cubs by the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, pitching to a 6.13 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 16 innings (three starts). For the season overall, the 35-year-old has recorded a 6-11 record with a 4.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 143 strikeouts across 143 1/3 innings (26 starts). He's pitched to a 5.52 ERA across 31 innings since the All-Star break. While Gausman appears to have avoided a serious injury, his ongoing troubles on the mound put his fantasy value in question going forward.
Source: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
Source: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
