This Cubs Pitcher Surprisingly Led The Team In WAR

The Chicago Cubs definitely had their fair share of pitching struggles in 2026. 

Part of the reason was the injuries the rotation dealt with. Cade Horton missed almost the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, Justin Steele suffered a setback in the spring that caused him to miss the entire 2026 season, and Ben Brown dealt with a neck issue that forced him to miss the final three months of the year. 

Those injuries forced the Cubs to acquire multiple pitchers throughout the season. They traded for David Peterson in late June, acquired veteran Kevin Gausman, and made a splash by landing Clay Holmes in a blockbuster deal. 

But the pitcher who finished with the best WAR on this Cubs team in 2026 is a surprise. Brown ended the season with the best pitcher WAR on FanGraphs. His 2.0 WAR was ahead of Shota Imanaga (1.8), Matthew Boyd (1.6), David Peterson (1.0), and Clay Holmes (0.5). 

Seeing Brown’s name at the top of that list comes as a shock. Although the young right-hander threw the ball well to start the season, he pitched only 68 innings for the Cubs in 2026. He last pitched on June 19 and missed the final three months of the season with an ongoing neck issue. 

Now, Brown no doubt had a phenomenal 2026 campaign. He broke out big time following an inconsistent 2025 season. The 27-year-old posted a 1.85 ERA, 0.941 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts across 20 appearances (eight starts) for the Cubs. 

Brown actually began the season in the Cubs’ bullpen, where he had a 2.10 ERA and a 23.7% strikeout rate in his first 12 appearances. The big right-hander emerged as a multi-inning reliever and allowed zero earned runs in eight of those 12 appearances. 

Those strong numbers earned him a spot in the rotation in early May. In this new role, Brown dominated right away. He threw eight scoreless innings with one hit, two walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first two starts. 

Brown was really emerging as a front-end starter for this Cubs rotation. He posted a 1.70 ERA and a 25% strikeout rate over eight starts before a neck injury sidelined him, and he allowed one run or fewer in six of those outings. 

While Brown leading the team in WAR in 2026 is great news for him, it suggests the Cubs' failed season came down to their pitching. Their top pitcher didn’t even throw a pitch in July, August, or September.