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Rea is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
After making his first two appearances of 2026 out of the bullpen, Rea will move into the rotation spot vacated by Cade Horton (elbow), who is slated to undergo season-ending surgery in the near future. Rea came on in relief of the injured Horton in the latter's final start Friday against the Guardians, striking out four while allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk across 3.1 innings. The right-handed Rea tossed 57 pitches in that appearance and may have a slight restriction with his workload Wednesday as he gets himself stretched back out.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Solid showing in win
Rotowire
Rea (1-0) allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out two over five innings to earn the win over the Rays on Wednesday.
Rea had worked in long relief for his first two outings of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. The right-hander has started at least 22 games in three straight seasons, so it shouldn't take him long to adjust, though it's unclear if he'll be the Cubs' long-term solution at the back of the rotation. He threw 51 of 79 pitches for strikes in this outing. Rea doesn't have great strikeout rates in his career, though he has a 10:3 K:BB through 11.1 innings so far this season. Assuming he remains in the rotation for another turn, he's tentatively lined up for a tough road start versus the Phillies.
Cubs' Colin Rea: Works in relief of injured starter
Rotowire
Rea allowed one run on four hits across 3.1 innings of relief in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Guardians. He walked one and struck out four.
Rea entered in the second inning after starter Cade Horton (forearm) departed early. After the game, the Cubs announced that Horton will be headed to the injured list, which will open up a rotation spot at least temporarily. Rea made 27 regular-season starts for Chicago last year and has 103 career starts at the MLB level, so he certainly has the experience to slide in if needed. Ben Brown is also an option to make starts, though the Cubs have not announced their plans for Horton's spot yet.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Picks up save Monday
Rotowire
Rea allowed two runs on four hits across three innings of relief and earned the save in Monday's 7-2 win over the Angels. He struck out four.
New Chicago starter Edward Cabrera tossed six scoreless innings in his team debut, and with the Cubs up 6-0 at that point, they let Rea close things out to save other arms in the bullpen. The veteran righty allowed a two-run home run to Yoan Moncada in the seventh inning, but then tossed blanks in the eighth and ninth. Rea has never had more than one save in a season during his MLB career, and he's unlikely to have too many more in 2026 from his long-relief role.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Officially secures bullpen role
Rotowire
Rea will make Chicago's Opening Day roster as a long reliever, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
With Cade Horton staking his claim to a rotation spot after an impressive rookie season and Edward Cabrera joining the Cubs via trade, Rea ultimately got pushed to the bullpen. The veteran righty made 27 starts for Chicago during the 2025 regular season, but he'll now slot in as a long reliever capable of supplying multiple innings out of the bullpen. Rea's fantasy value takes a hit in this role, though he certainly could still make some spot starts throughout the year.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Likely slated for bullpen role
Rotowire
Rea will likely work in a bullpen role to begin the season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Chicago's key offseason pitching addition was Edward Cabrera, and he will likely slot in near the top of the rotation. The Cubs will also start the year with Cade Horton, who made a splash in the majors after he debuted last May. Justin Steele (elbow) should return at some point as well. The deeper pitching staff figures to push Rea into more of a swing role, at least early in the season. The veteran righty appeared in 32 games for Chicago last year, making 27 starts, and posted a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 159.1 innings. Rea is a serviceable starter when given the opportunity, but his fantasy value takes a hit in long relief.
The Cubs re-signed Rea to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with a $7.5 million club option for 2027 on Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The buyout on the 2027 option is $1 million, so Rea will be guaranteed at least $6.5 million. The Cubs had held a $6 million option on Rea for 2026, but instead he will get slightly more guaranteed money, while the Cubs will pick up an additional year of control. Rea put up a 3.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 127:44 K:BB over 159.1 regular-season innings for the Cubs in 2025. He'll likely open 2026 at the back end of the rotation, though he could shift to a swingman role if the team makes multiple other additions.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Takes loss in relief in Game 5
Rotowire
Rea (0-1) was charged with the loss in Game 5 of the NLDS against Milwaukee on Saturday. He allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings.
Drew Pomeranz started the game for Chicago and allowed one run in one inning. Rea entered in the second frame and got through two scoreless innings before serving up a solo homer to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth. That was the only run Rea allowed, but it was enough to saddle him with the loss as the Cubs managed just a single run. Rea finished the postseason having pitched in three games, giving up only one run over 7.2 innings despite yielding nine hits and posting a 3:3 K:BB.
Rea (11-7) earned the win against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5.2 scoreless innings.
Rea was sharp, pounding the zone with 56 of 77 pitches for strikes and racking up 13 whiffs. The 35-year-old snapped a winless skid dating back to Aug. 20 despite having now limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in each of his past five outings. He closes the regular season with a career-best 3.95 ERA to go along with a 1.25 WHIP and 127:44 K:BB across 159.1 innings.
Rea (10-7) allowed one run on four hits and struck out 11 without walking a batter over seven innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Reds.
Rea was excellent, limiting the damage to a Will Benson RBI double in the fourth inning, but that was the lone run of the game. The Cubs offered Rea no support, as they got one-hit by Reds starter Hunter Greene a day after clinching a playoff spot. Rea picked up his first quality start since Aug. 9 versus the Cardinals, and this was the first time he's logged double-digit strikeouts all season. He's now at a 4.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 120:43 K:BB over 153.2 innings through 31 appearances (26 starts) this season. He'll likely get the chance to tie his career high in starts next week with his last projected outing of the regular season, set to be at home versus the Mets.
Rea allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Rea held the Rays scoreless through four frames before giving up a run in the fifth. The right-hander then allowed the first two batters he faced in the sixth to reach base, and both ended up scoring. Rea did induce a healthy 13 whiffs and notched five punchouts, but the disappointing finish to his start kept him from completing six frames for the sixth straight outing. He's slated to take on Cincinnati in his next appearance.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Pitches well in bulk role Sunday
Rotowire
Rea allowed just one run on three hits across 5.1 innings but did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals. He struck out six.
Rea was the second Chicago pitcher to enter the game, following opener Drew Pomeranz, who lasted an inning. The former pitched well after having allowed nine earned runs across 8.2 innings in his previous two appearances, and he lowered his ERA to 4.20 with the improved effort. With Jameson Taillon (groin) and Michael Soroka (shoulder) both currently on the shelf, Rea figures to remain in the rotation as the Cubs' fifth starter. He lines up to take the hill again Saturday against the Rays.
