Brown certainly has the stuff to start, but the efficiency to give a team the kind of length it would prefer eludes him. He allowed three hits, walked four and struck out six before coming out with the Cubs up 6-1 today. With a more reasonable pitch count, he probably would have had an easy victory. Brown is due to face the Phillies next weekend.

Impressive, even before you consider the quality of opponent. Brown was “only” able to get nine swings and misses over 84 pitches, but he was still able to accumulate the five punchouts while scattering five hits. It’s easily his best start of the year, and a reminder that Brown was once considered one of the better pitching prospects in baseball. He’ll try and build on this effort and continue to lower his 5.09 ERA against the Diamondbacks next weekend.

Brown gave up three runs in the first, only to see the Cubs come back with seven runs over the next two innings. Still, it wasn’t enough to get Brown a win. He allowed seven hits and walked four before being lifted. It won’t get any easier for him next time out against the Dodgers.