The latest installment how I’m feeling about the Cubs rotation. This is not deep-dive or statistics driven…just my gut feel.
Green = Moving Up
Red = Moving Down
Blue = Moving out
Orange = Moving In
Black = No Change
Ace – would start this pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series
No one at the moment
Near Ace – would feel comfortable starting this pitcher in a playoff series
Jameson Taillon – I’ve been adamant since he was acquired that I think of Taillon as a good 4th starter. He’s durable and can eat up innings. But he’s a guy who can keep your tea in a game, not dominate hitters. But the addition of a change-up to his arsenal may have been a literal “game changer” for Taillon. He’s been shutting teams down over the past month, and I now feel very positive when he’s going to start. Of course, not that I’ve moved him up, watch him get rocked the next time out.
Embrace – would feel comfortable starting this pitcher in a big regular season game
Matthew Boyd – Boyd is very close to moving up, as he continues to provide everything the Cubs have needed, and more. And he’s stayed health, which was one of my main concerns coming into the season. Honestly, if Steele and Imanaga were both health, this would be a pretty daunting rotation.
Near Replace – would only feel comfortable starting this pitcher in against a lesser opponent
Cade Horton – When Imanaga went the IL a few weeks ago, I did not expect they would go to Cade Horton so soon. And once they brought him up, I would have wagered that he would be the one sent down once Imanaga returned. But the recent struggles of Colin Rea, along with the yo-yo performances of Ben Brown, makes me think he might stay in the rotation for the rest of the season. He hasn’t been amazong, but I feel more confident when he start, as opposed to the other two.
Colin Rea – Rea seems to have hit a wall once we got to late May and June. After a couple of bad outings against the Reds, he had a nice performance against Washington, before another bad games against the Phillies. Chris Flexen has done a really good job as Rea’s replacement as the long man out of the bullpen, but once Imanaga is back and/or the Cubs trade for a starter, there is a decent chance he heads back to the pen.
Ben Brown – Ben “Up and Down” Brown. If I had posted this yesterday, he would be in the tier above, after two solid outings. But yesterday brought another game where he had poor control outside and inside the strike zone. Brett Taylor from Bleacher Nation has a good summery here, discussing how his inability to make competitive pitches led to either walks or “get me over” pitches down the middle that got hammered: https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/06/12/ben-brown-cubs/
Maybe a brief trip down to Iowa to work on his command could help his confidence. Or it might wreck his confidence. The Cubs need more consistency from Brown as they try to maintain a division lead, but I don’t know if they will get it.
Replace – would only feel comfortable starting this pitcher in spring training
One of the 3 pitchers here will be replaced when Imanaga gets back, but there is no clear candidate. Brown or Horton could be sent to AAA, which would allow the Cubs to avoid losing one of the members of the bullpen with the move, and that could be a factor in the decision. And the Cubs have indicated they will trade for starting pitching, which means a 2nd player in the current rotation will need to be replaced. Of course, there is always the lingering threat of injury. If Assad, Steele and Imanaga were healthy, we might be seeing three-fifths of the rotation the Cubs have right now. The fact that the Cubs are in first place with a 5-game lead is a testament to how well the offense and bullpen have performed.
Injured or Minors:
Shota Imanaga – He’s getting closer, pitching simulated games in Arizona before an expected ramp-up at Iowa for a couple of starts. It will be a welcome return to get him back in the rotation.
Javier Assad – still ramping up, and will not be back until July at the earliest.
Cubs in 7 
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