The Cubs are kicking off the season with a few lineup adjustments as outfielder Seiya Suzuki hits the 10-day injured list. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Suzuki's sidelining due to a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
With Suzuki out, the Cubs are looking to bring non-roster invitee Michael Conforto into the mix, a move that was already on the cards. It remains to be seen how the lineup will adjust for the first series.
On the mound, right-hander Javier Assad is headed to Triple-A Iowa to continue his work as a starter. Although he was considered for a bullpen role, the Cubs have decided to keep him stretched out in Des Moines. Joining the bullpen are Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Colin Rea, and now Ben Brown, who clinched the final spot.
Suzuki, at 31, is coming off a strong season where he played a career-high 151 games, boasting a .245/.326/.478 slash line and 32 home runs. As he enters the last year of his five-year, $85 million contract, the Cubs will miss his presence at the plate.
In his absence, the team will likely rely on Conforto and possibly Dylan Carlson or Kevin Alcantara. Both Carlson and Alcantara are still in camp, hoping to secure a spot on the bench.
Conforto and Carlson are looking to bounce back from tough seasons, while Alcantara, once a top prospect, is aiming to overcome strikeout issues in Triple-A.
Assad, 27, had a challenging 2025 season, limited to just 37 innings due to a severe oblique strain. Despite a 3.65 ERA, his strikeout rate was below par, though he did manage solid walk and ground-ball rates.
Since his MLB debut in 2022, Assad has shown versatility between the rotation and bullpen, maintaining a 3.43 ERA overall. With a $1.8 million salary this season, he's under team control for two more years via arbitration.
Ben Brown, 26, faced a tough 2025, posting a 5.92 ERA over 106 1/3 innings. However, his performance improved significantly out of the bullpen, with a 30.5% strikeout rate and fewer home runs allowed. Brown, with one minor league option left, remains under team control for five more seasons, providing the Cubs with flexibility and potential upside in their pitching staff.