Brothers (1-0) struck out three batters in an inning of work out of the bullpen and earned the win Saturday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Starter Zach Davies only went four innings, so Brothers worked the fifth and picked up the win after mowing down the Reds on 14 pitches. The lefty has been solid for the Cubs, as he now has a 3.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 11 appearances (10.1 innings) this season.

Brothers pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to record a hold in Tuesday's win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

After starter Jake Arrieta pitched five solid innings, Brothers took over and breezed through the sixth on 15 pitches. The lefty has been good so far for the Cubs with a 2.45 ERA and three holds across 7.1 innings, and he should continue to work in a middle relief role.

Brothers said he's made mechanical changes that have helped him pitch well this spring and make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brothers said shoulder pain he tried to pitch through while in Colorado caused his mechanics to get out of whack, and he posted a 7.23 ERA in 2017 with Atlanta, which was the last time he got significant run in the majors. The lefty made one appearance for Atlanta in 2018, then pitched in three games for the Cubs last year. Brothers was locked in this spring, tossing 8.2 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts, so it looks like the mechanical adjustments have helped. He should serve as the second lefty in the Chicago bullpen this season behind Andrew Chafin.

The Cubs selected Brothers' contract Sunday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brothers was awarded a spot in the Chicago bullpen after he dazzled across eight scoreless innings in Cactus League play, striking out nine while conceding two hits and a walk. The 33-year-old lefty will likely settle for low-leverage duties to begin the season, but he could quickly work his way into a key setup role given the lack of established talent in the Chicago bullpen.

Brothers should make the Opening Day roster after the Cubs optioned Brad Wieck to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wieck and Brothers were battling to be the second lefty reliever behind Andrew Chafin, and it looks like Brothers has won the competition. He'll need to be added to the 40-man roster before the season starts. Brothers has only logged 3.1 MLB innings since the start of the 2018 season, but he should easily surpass that workload in 2021.

Brothers appears likely to secure an Opening Day bullpen spot with the Cubs, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cubs are in need of a second lefty reliever behind Andrew Chafin, and the battle this spring has seemingly come down to Brothers and Brad Wieck. Manager David Ross didn't officially say that Brothers had made the team, but noted that "he's ready to impact our ballclub in a big way." Wieck also isn't officially out of the mix, but if the Cubs do only keep two lefties, he looks like the odd man out.

Brothers could make the Cubs' Opening Day roster as a second left-handed reliever, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Andrew Chafin is the only lefty locked into the Chicago bullpen at the moment, so Brothers may make the team if the Cubs are looking for a little more flexibility. Brad Wieck is also in the mix, and both southpaws have looked sharp this spring with matching 0.00 ERAs, so the roster battle could come down to the end of camp.

Brothers agreed to a minor-league contract with the Cubs in January, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shortly after being outrighted off the Cubs' 40-man roster in late October, Brothers opted for free agency. After assessing his options, the 33-year-old lefty ultimately decided it was in his best interest to rejoin the Cubs organization in 2021. He'll likely be invited to big-league spring training, but Brothers will face an uphill battle to win a spot out of Chicago's bullpen.

Brothers elected free agency Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa after he cleared waivers over the weekend, Brothers will leave the Cubs organization and pursue opportunities elsewhere heading into 2021. He'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal this winter if he hopes to continue his playing career in North America.

Brothers was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Brothers was included on the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2020, but he spent most of the season at the alternate training site. The southpaw made three relief appearances in the majors last year, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out eight over 3.1 innings. Infielder Max Schrock was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move.