The Chicago Cubs finalized their 26-man roster ahead of their domestic opener against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Thursday.

Brad Keller – who manager Craig Counsell told he made the team on Tuesday – had his contract selected on Wednesday. To make room on the 40-man roster, Cody Poteet was designated for assignment. The Cubs also placed infielder Vidal Bruján on the 10-day IL with a right elbow sprain and right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier on the 15-day IL with with a left groin strain. They recalled right-handed pitcher Eli Morgan to take Brasier’s spot in the bullpen.

Bruján’s IL stint means Rule 5 pick Gage Workman earns the final spot on the Cubs bench.

[MORE: Cubs face baseball’s toughest test as hunt for October resumes]

Let’s break down the 26-man crew that begins the marathon to try and return to the playoffs:

PITCHERS (13, five starters, eight bullpen arms, plus three on IL)

Rotation

LHP Shota Imanaga
LHP Justin Steele
RHP Jameson Taillon
LHP Matthew Boyd
RHP Ben Brown
RHP Javier Assad (15-day IL)

Brown’s inclusion as the fifth starter may not have been on anyone’s bingo card at the start of spring. The righty was coming off an injury-marred 2024 where a neck issue limited him to just 15 games and 55.1 innings and the Cubs had other starters seemingly ahead of him – Assad and free-agent acquisition Colin Rea. But Brown’s potential is intriguing and, since he’ll likely be on an innings restriction this season, the Cubs will want to maximize those innings.

Bullpen

RHP Porter Hodge
RHP Brad Keller
RHP Julian Merryweather
RHP Eli Morgan
RHP Nate Pearson
RHP Ryan Pressly
RHP Colin Rea
LHP Caleb Thielbar
RHP Tyson Miller (15-day IL)
RHP Ryan Brasier (15-day IL)

Rea and Keller are the surprising names on this list. Rea will still make starts at points in 2025 for the Cubs, but for now he’ll provide length out of the ‘pen for Counsell. Keller, signed as a non-roster invitee this winter, has opened eyes with increased velocity this spring and is stretched out, giving manager Craig Counsell some flexibility with his pitching staff.

Miller was a key cog for Counsell last season, posting a 2.15 ERA across 49 games. He struggled in spring, allowing nine runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings (17.36 ERA) and will be sidelined to start the year. Brasier, acquired from Dodgers this winter after he was designated for assignment, also was expected to be a key bullpen weapon, but will miss the start of the season.

It’s situations like that why the Cubs were so insistent on adding bulk options to their relief corps. Pitchers will struggle and unexpected arms will contribute to what’s arguably the most volatile position group in baseball. Morgan had an impressive spring (3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings) and it was a bit of a surprise to fans when he was optioned upon returning from Japan, but it showcases the depth the Cubs have in their bullpen. Merryweather – a key reliever two years ago – and Pearson, a leverage option last season, are probably near the bottom of the Cubs bullpen, another example, too.

POSITION PLAYERS (13, plus one on IL)

Catchers

Miguel Amaya
Carson Kelly

Amaya drew the start on Opening Day and Kelly was behind the dish for game two. That’s how the catching tandem will go for the Cubs this season, the duo will form a time-share behind the plate, but Counsell has been clear that if one takes the job and runs with it, they’ll be OK with that, too.

Infielders

Jon Berti
Michael Busch (L)
Nico Hoerner
Matt Shaw
Dansby Swanson
Justin Turner
Gage Workman (L)
Vidal Bruján (10-day IL)

Hoerner missed out on the trip to Japan as he continued his recovery from offseason flexor tendon surgery. Clearly that time back stateside helped, as he’ll be ready for the domestic opener. The rest of the infield is no surprise after Shaw won the job at the hot corner ahead of the Tokyo Series.

Berti, Workman and Turner will round out the bench for Counsell. Turner should see time at first behind Busch, especially against tough lefty options. Berti and Workman give the Cubs a bit of a Swiss Army Knife-type player who can be plugged across the infield and in the corner outfield if needed. Workman’s ascension from Rule 5 Draft pick to Opening Day roster is an impressive feat. He’s the first Cubs’ Rule 5 pick to make an Opening Day roster since Héctor Rondón in 2013.

The Cubs will face a 40-man roster decision whenever Bruján is ready to return. He is out of minor-league options and Workman can’t be optioned to the minor leagues without first being offered back to Detroit.

Outfielders

Pete Crow-Armstrong
Ian Happ (S)
Seiya Suzuki
Kyle Tucker (L)

No surprises in the outfield – Happ, Crow-Armstrong and Tucker from left to right with Suzuki as the primary DH. Crow-Armstrong’s second half exploits at the plate should give some optimism that this could be the backbone of the Cubs’ offense, especially with Tucker in the fold. If Crow-Armstrong struggles or is hurt, top-100 prospect Kevin Alcántara is a call away in Iowa to patrol center field.