In a disappointing outing for rookie pitcher Ben Brown, the Chicago Cubs faced a tough loss against the Philadelphia Phillies. After a solid start through three innings, Brown's performance deteriorated sharply in the fourth, where he allowed six runs on six hits, culminating in a 35-pitch inning. Cubs manager Craig Counsell did not mince words in a post-game press conference, stating, "We need better, frankly," emphasizing the urgent need for starting pitchers to go deeper into games given the current struggles of the Cubs' rotation.

With injuries to key starters such as Justin Steele and Javier Assad, the Cubs are relying heavily on their bullpen, which has struggled early in the season. Brown's current 6.04 ERA across six games, coupled with his inability to limit damage, poses an ongoing challenge for the team as they navigate through a critical stretch of the season.

As the 2025 MLB season progresses, the spotlight shines on several starting pitchers showcasing noteworthy changes. Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins has made significant adjustments, including a dramatic decrease in four-seam fastball usage. Instead, he is now leaning on breaking balls, particularly a newly refined slider and a revamped curveball that shows promise for whiffs. These changes may herald a breakout season if Cabrera can maintain control.

Ben Brown of the Chicago Cubs, despite a recent impressive performance against the Dodgers, struggles with consistency. His high walk rates and reliance on two pitches raise red flags for long-term success. Shane Smith from the White Sox is also navigating his own challenges. While he showcases effective velocity, his pitch distribution needs refinement to effectively compete against right-handed hitters. Finally, Yusei Kikuchi's transformation with the Angels has initially yielded disappointing results, with concerns surrounding his new arm slot and pitch command.

In the realm of fantasy baseball, pitching trends are crucial for strategizing. Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins is generating buzz after a revamped pitch mix and improved slider command. His decreased four-seam usage and enhanced breaking ball approach signal a potential breakthrough. Meanwhile, Ben Brown of the Chicago Cubs is creating mixed opinions after a promising start yet struggles with consistency, particularly relying heavily on two pitches. Shane Smith of the White Sox is intriguing with new pitch additions but still needs to refine his command. Lastly, Yusei Kikuchi's adjustments with the Angels show promise, but skepticism remains due to early season inconsistencies.

In Week 3 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, several starting pitchers have emerged as potential waiver wire targets, and three in the NL Central have caught attention. Andre Pallante of the St. Louis Cardinals has been impressive, boasting a 2.20 ERA after a dominant performance against the Phillies, utilizing his four-seam fastball and slider effectively. Meanwhile, Matthew Liberatore, also from the Cardinals, has shown promise with his new pitch mix, including a heightened slider usage that led to a solid outing against the same team. Lastly, Ben Brown, pitching for the Chicago Cubs, showcased his ability to blank the formidable Dodgers, demonstrating considerable upside despite earlier struggles this season. These pitchers may be worth monitoring for fantasy teams.

Streaming pitchers early in the season can provide crucial fantasy points, and a few options stand out for Week 1. Kumar Rocker of the Texas Rangers is a top choice, boasting impressive strikeout potential despite some walk issues. Grant Holmes from the Atlanta Braves is also notable, especially for his favorable home matchup against Miami, while the Chicago Cubs’ Ben Brown is a fresh face with high K/9 rates, making him a solid streamer. David Peterson from the Mets and Kris Bubic from the Royals provide additional options, although their matchups are more challenging.

On the hitter side, the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds emerge as teams to target for streaming players. The Twins face weaker pitching matchups, making left-handed hitters like Matt Wallner and Ryan Jeffers intriguing adds. The Reds also have favorable conditions and matchups, especially for hitters like T.J. Friedl and Jeimer Candelario.