Friday's game was set up to be a nice showcase for Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, a contender to win his second straight AL Cy Young Award. And it was, but Ben Brown stood his ground really well for the

Cubs right-hander Ben Brown came to love entering a game from the bullpen. ‘‘You hear the phone ring, you get going, all your guys are in there cheering you on,’

The Chicago Cubs may have dropped the series opener 3-1 to the Detroit Tigers on Friday, but it didn’t feel entirely like a loss. In the shadows of defeat, in a much-hyped battle between the American League-best Tigers and National League-best Cubs,

Drew Pomeranz, Ben Brown, Brad Keller and Daniel Palencia combined on a one-hitter, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-0.

After lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz’s 1-2-3 first inning, Brown threw six scoreless innings of one-hit ball, matching a season high with nine strikeouts and helping the Cubs to a 2-0 win.

It was not only great advertising for the Cubs-owned network, but also a shot in the arm for the Cubs offense, which had stranded four runners in scoring position over the first s

CHICAGO — The announcement for the Cubs’ starting probables over the weekend came later than usual. A text to reporters was sent Friday morning, just 20 minutes before the clubhouse would open for the day, announcing that day’s starters and the plan for the next two days.

Ben Brown has struggled in the first inning so far this season. While he works on a solution, the Chicago Cubs might try a different approach.

The Cubs could use an opener on Saturday to help Ben Brown, who has struggled in the first inning so far this season, manager Craig Counsell said.

Chicago Cubs (39-23, first in the NL Central) vs. Detroit Tigers (41-23, first in the AL Central) Detroit; Friday, 6:10 p.m. CDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Ben Brown (3-3, 5.72 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 71 strikeouts);