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44 articles
CHC • Pitcher • #53
6 days ago
Rea had his splitter working in this one. It forced seven of his 13 whiffs as he located it perfectly low and below the zone. With that pitch working, his often uninspiring fastball was forcing late swings and was rarely squared up. He ran into a bit of trouble during his third time around the order, but some help from Alex Bregman and Jacob Webb helped keep his line clean. Up next is a terrifyingly enticing two-start week against the Braves and White Sox.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
11 days ago
Back on form after a rough outing against the Dodgers, Rea effectively dazzled the Diamondbacks, missing a quality start only because of an elevated pitch count. Rea managed a sizzling 16 whiffs on 54 swings, but the Diamondbacks did get 12 hard-hit balls against him. The Cubs bullpen immediately put Rea’s win in jeopardy by allowing a three-run homer to Geraldo Perdomo, but hung on. Rea’s in line to start again against the Reds in Wrigley next week and should be a viable-if-unexciting streamer for that one.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
17 days ago
Rea was awful, giving up six hits and four walks while seeing 10 balls off the bat register as hard contact. The right-hander was coming off a strong outing against the Phillies, but to say he didn’t have the same kind of success is quite the understatement. He needed 92 pitches to get those 10 outs, and his ERA rose to 4.61 in the process. He’ll try and bounce back to his previous form against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
22 days ago
It’s the second straight season in which Rea has opened up in the Cubs pen, quickly joined the rotation due to injury and started off 3-0. The difference this year is that win No. 3 didn’t come until his sixth start on May 12. This time, it’s coming in his second start. The other occurred when he was pitching behind an opener last week. Rea has a 3.00 ERA and a 20/5 K/BB in 24 innings. He’ll be a streaming option at times, but he’s due to make his next start against the Dodgers.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
28 days ago
Rea took over after rookie lefty Riley Martin worked a scoreless opening frame and finished with five strikeouts and didn’t hand out a free pass. He served up a three-run homer to Edmundo Sosa in the second inning, but managed to keep the Phillies off the scoreboard over his final five innings of work. The 35-year-old veteran swingman holds a 3.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 15/3 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings of work. He’ll factor into Chicago’s pitching plan against the Mets on Sunday.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
about 1 month ago
Rea provided Chicago with everything they could’ve hoped for while helping fill the void created by injuries to Matthew Boyd (biceps) and Cade Horton (elbow). He gave up only two hits with an RBI double from Jonathan Aranda representing the lone tally against him. He struck out two and only handed out a pair of free passes. He’ll square off against the Phillies in a road tilt on Tuesday. It’s a tough matchup but there’s some low-upside streaming appeal in deeper mixed leagues.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
about 1 month ago
Rea figures to stick in Chicago’s rotation for the next couple weeks with Matthew Boyd (biceps) on the shelf and Cade Horton (elbow) undergoing season-ending surgery. The 35-year-old journeyman has excelled in a swingman-type role for the Cubs over the last two seasons with a respectable 4.11 ERA across 179 2/3 innings. He doesn’t offer a ton of strikeout upside based on his career track record, but he’s a viable streaming option in deeper mixed leagues.
Source: MLB.com
CHC • Pitcher • #53
about 1 month ago
Witnessing a three-inning save is a bit like seeing a payphone that still works. It’s novel enough to pause for a moment, but that’s really it. Rea will continue to gobble up innings as a versatile swingman providing real value for the Cubs in long relief.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
about 2 months ago
The Cubs have avoided rotation injuries this spring, so it looks like Rea will open up in middle relief. He ends the spring with a 3.10 ERA, even though he’s given up five homers (but just seven earned runs) in 20 1/3 innings.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
2 months ago
Mitch Squires, Elias Díaz and Luca Tresh all homered off him. Based on his performance last year, Rea would seem to be the obvious next-man-in to the Cubs rotation if anyone gets hurt, but Javier Assad, who faces Italy tonight, looked really good for Mexico last time out and has the better career numbers for the Cubs. Maybe we won’t actually find out who the choice would be, since the Cubs are hoping to get Justin Steele back within the first two months.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
2 months ago
Rea scattered four hits on the afternoon and didn’t walk a batter. The lone blemish against him came on a leadoff solo home run off the bat of Pavin Smith to start the fourth inning. The 35-year-old hurler got six swings and misses on 57 pitches on the day, posting an elite CSW of 40 percent. He has been outstanding through his first three appearances this spring, compiling a 2.16 ERA 1.08 WHIP and a 10/1 K/BB ratio across 8 1/3 innings. He’s expected to open the season as a long reliever in the Cubs’ bullpen barring any injuries striking.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
3 months ago
Rea gave up an RBI single to Will Brennan while allowing two more hits with one walk and two strikeouts before exiting. The 35-year-old will be stretched out this spring, but there’s a very good chance he’s going to open the 2026 season in Chicago’s bullpen.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
6 months ago
Rea is guaranteed $6.5 million and will make $13 million if the option is exercised. Much like last season, Rea will probably go into the spring penciled in as a middle reliever. However, he wound up making 27 starts and just five relief appearances in 2025, amassing a 3.95 ERA in the process.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
6 months ago
The Cubs had a $6 million option to keep Rea for 2026, but the new deal will guarantee him $6.5 million and will be worth $13 million if the Cubs end up exercising the option for 2027. Rea, 35, went 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances for the Cubs last season.
Source: Steve Adams
CHC • Pitcher • #53
7 months ago
Rea got the call over Shota Imanaga, which was something the Cubs kind of signaled by going with the lefty opener in Drew Pomeranz; it wouldn’t have made much sense to follow a left-hander with another southpaw. Rea pitched scoreless second and third innings before giving up a homer to Andrew Vaughn with two outs in the fourth. He stayed in after that and gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases, but Daniel Palencia bailed him out at that point.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
8 months ago
Rea allowed just two hits and struck out seven in one of his best showing in another quietly fine season; he ends up 11-7 with a 3.95 ERA and a 127/33 K/BB in 159 1/3 innings. As in 2024 when he was with the Brewers, his team is postseason bound, though he didn’t get to pitch last October. We’re guessing he’ll be on the Wild Card roster as a middle reliever, but it’s not assured, especially if the Cubs carry only 12 pitchers.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
8 months ago
The 35-year-old right-hander scattered four hits on the evening and didn’t walk a batter. The lone tally against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Will Benson in the fourth inning. Aside from that, Rea was nearly perfect. He racked up 19 swings and misses on 93 pitches on the night, posting an elite CSW of 41 percent. Rea will look to finish the regular season strong as he brings a 4.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 120/43 K/BB ratio (153 2/3 innings) into Thursday’s matchup against the Mets.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
8 months ago
Operating as a traditional starter, Rea carried a shutout into the fifth inning before coughing up a triple to Rays rookie Bob Seymour, who crossed the plate on a ground out later in the frame. He was saddled with a no-decision after Tampa Bay scratched two additional runs across the plate in the ensuing frame. He struck out five and didn’t hand out a free pass. He’ll take the ball on Thursday in a tough road matchup against the Reds at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
8 months ago
Rea took over after Drew Pomeranz pitched a scoreless first and stayed in through the seventh before leaving with a 2-1 lead. The Nats came back in the ninth, so Rea didn’t get the win he deserved today. He’s a viable option in mixed leagues in a start against the Rays next weekend.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
8 months ago
Rea wasn’t effective, but neither was Spencer Strider, so it’s a relatively-deserved no-decision. The 35-year-old has scuffled over his last four outings, and his ERA had bumped up to 4.30 from the 3.96 it sat at three starts ago. Not a huge surprise, honestly. He’ll try and get back on track Sunday against the Nationals.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
9 months ago
Rea wasn’t the only pitcher for the Cubs who struggled — Chicago gave up a dozen runs in this contest — but he was a key culprit to the nine-run loss. He allowed eight hits, two walks and a homer in a start where he didn’t fool the San Francisco hitters whatsoever. Rea now has a 4.23 ERA on the season, and will try and get back on track versus Atlanta on Monday.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
9 months ago
Rea avenged a July 29 loss to the team that let him go after last season. He actually walked five in the contest, but he allowed just three hits. He’s 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in four starts this month and 10-5 with a 3.96 ERA overall. He should face the Giants on the road next week.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
9 months ago
The 35-year-old right-hander piled up five strikeouts on the afternoon while issuing only one free pass. The lone tally against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Andrew McCutchen in the fourth inning. Rea generated 13 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 29 percent. With Jameson Taillon set to rejoin the rotation next week, it’s possible that Rea could be forced out of a starting gig unless they want to go to a six-man rotation. He’s scheduled to get the ball next on Wednesday against the Brewers.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
9 months ago
Rea struck out six and walked two while posting a 17 percent whiff rate and 27 percent CSW. It wasn’t a dominant performance, but he kept the Cardinals off the barrel all night and got plenty of chases on the fringe of the strike zone. He’ll take a 4.09 ERA into a tough start against the Blue Jays next week. We’d avoid using him in most fantasy leagues.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
9 months ago
Rea gave up five hits, walked one and struck out four. The 35-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs or less in five of his last seven starts. Rea has a 4.23 ERA and 79/29 K/BB ratio in 110 2/3 innings. He’s lined up to face the Cardinals on the road next weekend.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
10 months ago
Rea walked one batter and struck out a pair against his former ballclub. The Brewers scratched out single runs in the second and third innings on sacrifice flies against the 35-year-old hurler. Rea then allowed a leadoff triple to Jackson Chourio and an RBI double to William Contreras to open the fifth inning before turning the ball over to the bullpen. He got just four whiffs on 82 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll look to get back on track as he carries a 4.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 75/28 K/BB ratio (106 innings) into Monday’s matchup against the Reds.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
10 months ago
Rea gave up three homers with the wind blowing out at Wrigley, though Vinnie Pasquantino’s two didn’t really need the assistance. It’s the third time this year that Rea has given up at least three homers. He’s 8-4 with a 4.06 ERA overall, but he’s not someone the Cubs are going to want to start a postseason game, and he might yet finish the season in the pen. He’s due to face his previous club, the Brewers, next time out.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
10 months ago
Rea punched out five batters on the day while also issuing four walks. The lone blemish on his day came on an RBI double off the bat of Roman Anthony in the third inning. The 35-year-old right-hander generated 11 whiffs on 84 pitches in the ballgame, posting a CSW of 27 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he brings an 8-3 record, 3.80 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 70/27 K/BB ratio (97 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Royals.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
10 months ago
Any team could have had Rea at a reasonable $5.5 million when he was on waivers in November, but no one jumped, and the Cubs eventually signed him for $5 million. He’s since put together a nice first half at 7-3 with a 3.91 ERA. His peripherals have never been great, but he’s allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his 15 starts.
CHC • Pitcher • #53
10 months ago
As the Cubs lineup knocked in seven runs with six homers over the first three innings of this game, Rea retired the first nine batters he faced. Literally the only blemish on his line was a solo home run by Brendan Donovan to start the fourth inning. Otherwise, he artfully worked the edges of the zone with his fastball and sinker to force plenty of soft contact. He’s lined up to face the Twins next week in his last start before the All-Star break.