Despite brutal injuries, the Chicago Cubs starting rotation has been one of the strengths of the team. Most of their starters have not been elite, but they have gotten the job done due to the elite defensive players surrounding them. Each starter has had their own ups and downs, but when considering the circumstances of the amount of injuries, fans are mostly pleased.
The bulk of the injuries have been in the bullpen, which shook up the season early on, but the starters have caused more concern. Coming into 2026, the team knew they would be down Justin Steele, as he is recovering from his season-ending injury last season. Unfortunately, the bad news kept on coming, as Cade Horton joined the wave of injuries and had his season ended. Then, Matthew Boyd suffered a knee injury, which required surgery on May 7th, and it was announced he would miss approximately six weeks.
Cubs Starting Rotation Breakdown
When examining all these injuries, it raises numerous questions about how the Cubs’ starting rotation is managing success. The major reason that they have been able to win as many games as they have is that their current starters have stepped up under pressure and delivered quality play. Shota Imanaga has had a breakout season. Colin Rea and Jameson Taillon have maintained their serviceable play. Newcomer Edward Cabrera has had a shaky season but is still full of potential. Finally, Ben Brown is having a breakout season. To better understand their success, it is easier to look at it on a player-by-player basis.
Shota Imanaga
Imanaga has been one of the best stories for the Cubs’ starting rotation. Last season was full of struggles as the 31 home runs he allowed were tied for the fourth most in the league. However, he came back and quickly exceeded expectations. So far this season, he is 4-3 with a 2.32 ERA in 54 1/3 innings. Additionally, he has struck out 59 batters, which is tied for the ninth most in the league. His strong start has hit a second gear during May, where he has been playing at an elite level.
Shota Imanaga’s starts in May:
7 IP | 0 ER | 5 K
6 IP | 1 ER | 10 K
7 IP | 1 ER | 6 K0.90 ERA with 21 strikeouts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ho9VJrBlEG
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 14, 2026
This elite run has quickly cemented him as the top starter on the team. Every start that he makes, it feels like the Cubs have a chance to win. Imanaga always had the potential, but it seems like he has stepped up to the next level this season. It has come at a perfect time as he is now the anchor of the Cubs’ starting rotation, which needed consistency to survive the number of injuries they have gone through.
Colin Rea
Rea is not an elite option, but he still offers quality play. Last season, he went 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts. In his career, he has historically been used as a mixture of a long reliever and starter. Since coming to Chicago, it has been no different. This season, he was in conversation about coming out of the bullpen. However, once the injuries happened, he was forced into a starting role, and the team hasn’t looked back.
Through nine games, Rea has a record of 4-2 and has pitched 42 1/3 innings. His 4.68 ERA is not great, but it is not awful either. At the bare minimum, he is a strong fourth starter. As long as he can continue to give them quality outings, he has a role in the rotation until they get some of their other starters back.
Jameson Taillon
Taillon has served as the Cubs’ third-best starter, which is a bit higher than what they were planning on. However, he has filled in nicely this season. In eight games, he is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 45 2/3 innings. Similar to Rea, his season has been full of ups and downs. This trend actually goes back to last season when Taillon struggled with injuries. Although he still stepped up when the team needed him and started in many must-win games. As long as he maintains his consistent play, Taillon would be an elite middle-of-the-rotation guy. His play does not elevate Chicago, but it does maintain them as a contender.
Edward Cabrera
Cabrera had probably been the pitcher that the Cubs are most disappointed with this season. When they traded for Cabrera, the goal was for him to serve as one of the aces of the Cubs’ starting rotation. The stats have not backed this up, as he is 3-1 with a 3.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. He had a great start to the season, but he has really struggled these past few starts.
The talent is not the concern, as when he has been at his best, he has looked like an ace. The issue is turning that into consistent play. His role may impact the team the most. If he is at his best, then he transforms the pitching staff into an elite one. If he struggles, then the team may lack the firepower to remain competitive.
Ben Brown
Brown has been one of the biggest surprises this season. In the spring, he was often one of the pitchers whom many fans wanted to keep an eye on, as his talent has shown. His issue is that in his career, he has been heavily inconsistent. Anytime the team tried him as a starter, it did not work out. This season, though, he has seemed to turn the corner.
Ben Brown has been one of the best pitchers in baseball to begin 2026, dominating through his first 33.2 innings.
This season:
1.60 ERA (3rd in MLB)
0.86 WHIP (5th in MLB)
26.4 K%
7.8 BB%
0.27 HR/9 (8th in MLB)Rankings are among pitchers with at least 30 IP.
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) May 15, 2026
This success slotted into the Cubs’ starting rotation when Boyd went down with his most recent injury. So far, it has turned out well as Brown has had eight shutout innings and 10 strikeouts in two starts. If he can start giving the team more length, then he helps stabilize the rotation even with the injuries. Even then, when the others return, he gives Chicago the luxury of having a possible spot starter and a long reliever when needed.
The Last Word on the Cubs Starting Rotation
Right now, the Cubs’ starting rotation is holding its own. However, if any of the current options begin to struggle, then it is hard to see Chicago playing at the same level that they have in 2026. If they all keep up their consistency, then when Steele and Boyd return, the Cubs will have tough decisions to make. Those decisions are a luxury that many teams wish they could have. At this moment, the starting rotation does not seem to be holding Chicago back. It has all the potential to transform the Cubs into World Series contenders.
Main Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
