Rea (5-5) allowed four runs on six hits across 4.2 innings and took the loss in Sunday's 5-1 defeat to the Giants. He walked three and struck out two.
Rea worked as the bulk pitcher behind opener Ryan Rolison, and the former struggled upon entering the contest. The veteran righty has now taken the loss in his last two appearances, during which time he's allowed 11 runs across 9.1 innings, which has pushed his season ERA up to 5.35. Rea doesn't strike out many batters, with only a 6.8 K/9 on the year, and that limits his margin for error as well as his fantasy upside. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next scheduled appearance, which is currently lined up for Saturday against the Blue Jays, though it's unclear if he'll start of work behind an opener again.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Set to follow opener
Rotowire
Rea won't start Sunday's game against the Giants, but manager Craig Counsell said the right-hander is expected to "be involved" in the pitching plan, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ryan Rolison will instead start Sunday's series finale as an opener, lining up Rea to fill a bulk role out of the bullpen. The 35-year-old surrendered seven runs during his last start but was effective in the three outings prior to that with a 3.57 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 17.2 innings.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Surrenders seven runs Tuesday
Rotowire
Rea (5-4) took the loss against Colorado on Tuesday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings.
Rea fell behind quickly when he gave up a two-run home run to Hunter Goodman in the first inning. The Rockies got to him for three more runs in the second, with Ezequiel Tovar contributing a solo homer, and Chicago never got close after that. The seven earned runs Rea allowed were a season-worst mark, and the veteran hurler ended with more walks (three) than punchouts (two) while notching just five whiffs. His season ERA jumped up to an undesirable 5.19, which is accompanied by a 1.43 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB through 69.1 innings across 14 appearances (11 starts).
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Tosses 5.1 innings in no-decision
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Rea didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the A's. He tossed 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks, striking out three.
Rea came just two outs short of posting a quality start, and he delivered a very similar line to that of his previous outing on the road against the Pirates, where he also allowed two runs across 5.1 frames. However, Rea has allowed multiple runs in each of his last five appearances and only has one quality start over that stretch, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with a 17:10 K:BB across 26.2 innings in that span. Rea is slated to make his next start next week on the road against the Rockies, which is far from the ideal matchup with which to try and curtail his struggles.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Clinches fifth win of season
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Rea (5-3) earned the win Thursday against the Pirates after allowing two runs on four hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out five and also hit a batter.
Rea allowed a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds and an RBI double to Tyler Callihan before departing the game in the sixth, but he was excellent in the opening five frames. Rea has been a mixed bag as a rotation option, but he's at least been serviceable. He's posted a 4.78 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP across six starts and 32 innings in May and is slated to make his next start next week at home against the Athletics.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Pitches well but gets no support
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Rea (4-3) took the loss against Houston on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over seven innings.
The damage against Rea came almost entirely off the bat of Christian Walker, who hit a pair of homers to account for all three of the Astros' runs. In fact, Walker had three of the four hits Rea allowed. Otherwise, the righty hurler was pretty effective, completing seven innings for the first time this season and registering his third quality start. This was a solid bounce-back effort for Rea after he gave up nine runs over nine innings across his previous two starts, though Chicago provided him with no runs of support Saturday, resulting in the loss. He's lined up to make his next start on the road in Pittsburgh.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Unravels in rough fifth inning
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Rea (4-2) took the loss Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out one over 4.1 innings.
Rea cruised through the first four innings, limiting Atlanta to just three hits before everything fell apart in the fifth. Austin Riley opened the inning with a home run on the first pitch, and Mike Yastrzemski later added a two-run shot as Atlanta quickly flipped the game. Rea was pulled with two runners aboard, one of whom later came around to score. Prior to Tuesday, the veteran right-hander had allowed two or fewer runs in six of his eight starts, making this outing less alarming. Rea now owns a 4.68 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB across 42.1 innings and is scheduled to face the White Sox next.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: No-decision against Cincinnati
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Rea did not factor into Wednesday's decision against the Reds. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five across 5.1 innings.
After giving up an unearned run during the opening inning, Rea kept the Reds off the board over the next three frames before yielding a solo long ball to Matt McLain. Rea was still in line for the win until Cincinnati scored four runs in the ninth inning to take a 6-4 lead, though the Cubs were able to rally for the extra-inning victory. The veteran right-hander has given up two earned runs or fewer in six of eight starts this season and sits at a 4.03 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB across 38 innings. He's slated to face Atlanta on the road next week.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Fans six in fourth win
Rotowire
Rea (4-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings in a 6-5 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander needed an inefficient 102 pitches (71 strikes) to record 16 outs, but Rea did enough to snag his fourth win in five turns through the rotation since replacing Cade Horton (elbow). Rea will take a 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB through 32.2 innings into his next outing, which is set to come at home next week against the Reds.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Unravels against Dodgers
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Rea (3-1) took the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.
Rea got through two scoreless frames before giving up a two-run homer to Max Muncy in the third inning. Things went even further south for the righty in the fourth -- he retired the first hitter he faced, then allowed four straight batters to reach base, all of whom eventually came around to score (two after his departure). Rea hurt himself by issuing four free passes in the loss after handing out no more than two walks in any of his first five outings. He came into Saturday on a three-game win streak and having given up no more than three earned runs across any of his first five appearances, so he'll look to return to that form in what's projected to be a home start against Arizona next week.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Solid showing in third win
Rotowire
Rea (3-0) earned the win Monday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings against Philadelphia. He struck out five.
Rea continued his strong stretch, quieting the Philadelphia bats and pitching into the seventh inning for the first time this season en route to his third consecutive win. Having been used as both a starter and multi-inning reliever through five outings, the veteran right-hander has posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 20:5 K:BB across 24 innings. Even with Matthew Boyd (biceps) slated to return from the injured list this week, Rea's performance should keep him in the rotation moving forward.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Picks up win Tuesday
Rotowire
Rea (2-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts across six innings.
Riley Martin served as the opener for the Cubs in this one, firing a hitless and scoreless first inning on six pitches before Rea took over on the mound in the bottom of the second. Rea doesn't have overpowering stuff but was able to keep the Philly offense off-balance with his seven-pitch mix across 87 total pitches. Once Matthew Boyd (biceps) returns, perhaps as early as next Monday, Rea projects to remain in the rotation for the Cubs over Javier Assad after Assad was blasted for nine runs on 11 hits over 4.1 innings in Monday's loss to the Phillies. Rea has a 3.63 ERA and 15:3 K:BB across 17.1 innings and is in line to start Sunday at home against the Mets.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Bulk role likely awaits Tuesday
Rotowire
Rea is no longer scheduled to start Tuesday's game in Philadelphia but appears likely to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Riley Martin.
Chicago had initially listed Rea as its starter for Tuesday, but the Cubs will instead have the lefty Martin take the hill to begin the game since the Phillies typically have two left-handed hitters (Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper) within the top three spots of the lineup. Martin is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Rea, who is coming off a strong start at Tampa Bay last Wednesday in which he held the Rays to one run on two hits and two walks in five innings. Though Matthew Boyd (biceps) appears to be tracking toward a return from the injured list early next week, the Cubs should still have one more opening in the rotation for either Rea or Javier Assad. Rea is the presumptive frontrunner for that spot after Assad was blasted for nine earned runs over 4.1 innings in the Cubs' 13-7 loss in Monday's series opener.
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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.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Works in relief of injured starter
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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
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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
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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: 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.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Strikes out 11 in hard-luck loss
Rotowire
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.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Lasts four frames in no-decision
Rotowire
Rea did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three.
Rea was unimpressive Monday, failing to get through five innings and allowing plenty of traffic on the bases. The right-hander has shown signs of wearing down lately, pitching to a 5.03 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 34 innings in his last seven outings. He's slated to take the ball again Sunday against Washington.
