Colin Rea

Fantasy News

• Cubs' Colin Rea: Officially secures bullpen role

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2026

  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 Feb 9, 2026

  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.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Back with Cubs on one-year deal

  Rotowire Nov 6, 2025

  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 Oct 12, 2025

  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 Sep 18, 2025

  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: Fans five in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2025

  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: Lasts four frames in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2025

  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.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Trampled by Giants

  Rotowire Aug 28, 2025

  Rea (10-6) took the loss against San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings. Rea fell behind quickly, as Rafael Devers knocked his seventh pitch of the game over the outfield wall for a solo homer. Rea managed to get through a scoreless second frame, but things unraveled for him in the third, when the Giants got to him for three runs despite managing just two hits. The right-hander gave up three more runs (two of which were earned) in the fifth and was pulled before he could finish the frame. The poor outing snapped a string of four straight starts in which Rea had surrendered two or fewer earned runs. He's been middling overall this year with a 4.23 ERA through 132 innings, but he's been prone to blow-ups, giving up five or more earned runs on five different occasions.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Struggles with control in 10th win

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2025

  Rea (10-5) earned the win Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out three. Rea gave the Cubs at least five innings while conceding a lone run in his third straight start, although he issued a season-high five walks. Only 53 of the right-hander's 96 pitches landed for strikes, though he did manage to keep the ball in the yard for a fifth consecutive outing to limit the damage. Rea will bring a quality 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 93:38 K:BB across 127.1 frames into his next scheduled appearance, which is set to come next week in San Francisco.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Solid in no-decision

  Rotowire Aug 15, 2025

  Rea did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings. Rea allowed one run in the fourth inning but was otherwise sharp, generating 13 whiffs on 87 pitches and limiting the Pirates to one extra-base hit. The 35-year-old has surrendered just four runs over three August starts, though he's failed to complete more than five frames in five of six outings since the All-Star break. He'll take a 3.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 90:33 K:BB across 121.2 innings into a home matchup with the Brewers next week.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Sharp in ninth win

  Rotowire Aug 9, 2025

  Rea (9-5) allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Rea's shutout bid was broken up when Alec Burleson plated a run on a groundout in the sixth inning. This was Rea's first quality start in his last five outings -- he last reached the six-inning mark when he pitched seven frames of one-run ball July 10 versus the Twins. The right-hander is now at a 4.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 85:31 K:BB through 116.2 innings over 24 appearances (20 starts). Rea is tentatively projected to make his next start on the road against the Blue Jays. With the Cubs facing a stretch of 14 games in 13 days starting Tuesday in Toronto, he should be good to stick in the rotation for a bit longer even if Jameson Taillon (calf) and Javier Assad (oblique) are ready to return around the middle of the month.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Takes second straight loss

  Rotowire Jul 30, 2025

  Rea (8-5) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over four-plus innings Tuesday, striking out two and taking a loss against Milwaukee. Rea escaped some early trouble with just two runs allowed through four inefficient innings. He was then charged with two more runs in the fifth inning while failing to record an out in the frame. Rea looked impressive during a four-start winning streak but has since been tagged for 10 runs (nine earned) over nine innings in his last two outings. The veteran righty now owns a 4.25 ERA with a 75:28 K:BB through 106 frames this season. Rea will look to turn things around in his next outing, which is currently slated to be at home against the Reds next week.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Hit hard in loss to KC

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2025

  Rea (8-4) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits -- including three home runs -- over five innings as the Cubs fell 8-4 to the Royals. He struck out three without walking a batter. The veteran righty got taken deep by Vinnie Pasquantino twice and Salvador Perez once, marking the third time in his last 10 outings that Rea has served up at least three homers. He's coughed up 14 long balls in total over that span, posting a 4.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB in 55.1 innings. With the Cubs potentially looking to add reinforcements for their rotation at the trade deadline, Rea could conceivably lose his spot, but he currently lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Milwaukee.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Extends win streak to four

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2025

  Rea (8-3) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits and four walks over five innings while recording five strikeouts. For the fourth consecutive start, Rea earned the win and limited the damage to two or fewer runs. The only run charged to the right-hander Friday came on a third-inning RBI double by rookie Roman Anthony, but otherwise, the veteran kept Boston in check. Over this four-game win streak, the 35-year-old has quietly pieced together a 1.90 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 23.2 innings, showcasing an ability to navigate lineups with efficiency even without overpowering stuff. Rea will look to make it five straight when he takes the mound Wednesday, July 23 against Kansas City.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Grabs third straight win

  Rotowire Jul 10, 2025

  Rea (7-3) earned the win Thursday over the Twins, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five. Rea was sharp again Thursday, allowing just one run on a Kody Clemens solo homer in the fifth inning. The right-hander has won his last three starts, allowing only four runs on 10 hits across 18.2 innings during that span. Rea's ERA is down to 3.91 through 92 innings this season with a 1.26 WHIP and 65:23 K:BB.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Allows one hit in win

  Rotowire Jul 4, 2025

  Rea (6-3) earned the win against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings. Rea surrendered just one hit, a solo home run in the fourth inning, despite generating only six swinging strikes on 97 pitches. The 35-year-old notched his fourth quality start of the season and second in his last four outings, though that stretch also includes a seven-run blowup against Seattle on June 22. He'll carry a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB across 85 innings into a road matchup with the Twins next week.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Bounces back with victory

  Rotowire Jun 29, 2025

  Rea (5-3) earned the win over Houston on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out two batters over five innings. Rea was pounded for four homers and seven runs in his previous start, but he gave up a much more palatable one homer and two runs Saturday. While he notched just three whiffs and one punchout, the right-hander didn't issue a free pass and took advantage of ample run support to snap a streak of four straight winless starts. This was presumably Rea's final appearance in June, and the month was certainly a mixed bag for him -- he gave up two or fewer runs in three of his five outings, but in his other two starts he was tagged for a combined 11 runs over 9.2 frames.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Tagged with seven runs

  Rotowire Jun 22, 2025

  Rea (4-3) allowed seven runs on 11 hits and a walk over 5.1 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Mariners. Rea served up four home runs, including a pair by Dominic Canzone, in the loss. Rea did not allow a long ball through his first 18.2 innings this season but has since coughed up 13 of them in his last 10 appearances. The poor outing bumped his season ERA from 3.84 to 4.42 through 73.1 frames. Rea has produced a 6.89 ERA over his last six outings, allowing at least six runs in three of those. He's projected to start in Houston next weekend.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Hit hard in loss

  Rotowire May 30, 2025

  Rea (3-2) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Rea was burned by three homers and struggled overall, allowing 10 hard-hit balls while inducing just five whiffs on 90 pitches. The 34-year-old has now surrendered six earned runs in back-to-back starts against the Reds after allowing no more than four in any of his first eight outings. He owns a 3.96 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 43:16 K:BB across 52.1 innings this season and will attempt to get back on track in a road matchup against the Nationals next week.

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• Cubs' Colin Rea: Lacks command in first loss

  Rotowire May 24, 2025

  Rea (3-1) took the loss against the Reds on Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over five innings. Rea surrendered a two-run homer in the first inning and then allowed four runs across his final two frames. It was a mixed outing, as he threw 70 of 108 pitches for strikes and recorded a season-high eight punchouts while also yielding his most walks and runs in a start this season. The 34-year-old will carry a 3.28 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 40:14 K:BB across 46.2 innings into a rematch with the Reds at home next weekend.

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