Though it has only been three starts, Colin Rea has been the reinforcement that the Cubs’ rotation needed.
The Cubs will have to use internal options until the trade deadline creeps closer and Jed Hoyer’s front office can shop for a top-of-the-rotation arm to help combat the loss of Justin Steele, who’s out for the season after having elbow surgery.
Rea was the first in-house arm called on to join the starting staff in Steele’s absence, making the move from the bullpen, and he has performed well with only two runs allowed in three starts.
Rea has an ERA of 0.96 after five scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 4-0 victory against the Phillies on a wind-blowing-in Friday afternoon. He walked two in the first inning but didn’t let the Phillies do much of anything after, scattering three hits across the next four innings.
“Colin, he’s always going to be a little understated, that’s the nature of how he goes about his job and, it feels like sometimes, the nature of how he pitches,” manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “But he executes at a pretty high level. His stuff is better than you think, that’s what hitters say. And he’s continued to get better.”
The Cubs know there’s no replacing Steele, who made the All-Star team and was a top-five Cy Young finisher two years ago. They also know it could take a village to lessen the sting of his loss. The offense is doing its part, leading the league in runs and making life a whole lot easier for the pitching staff.
Hoyer adding a big-ticket item to his shopping cart this summer would be the most eye-catching way to help make up for Steele’s absence. But production is production, and though he’s not a flashy name like the should-be-available Sandy Alcantara, Rea has been big for a rotation in need.
“Obviously, you can never replace a guy like Justin,” infielder Jon Berti said. “But Colin’s been doing a great job and has been fun to watch. I always liked the way he pitched [when I was] playing against him.
“It’s a lot more fun being behind him.”
Pressly update
Closer Ryan Pressly didn’t pitch in either of the Cubs’ wins over the Dodgers this week, dealing with an issue that required his right knee to be drained Tuesday.
“It’s been kind of an annoyance for a little while here and just got to the point where he doesn’t want to have to deal with it,” Counsell said. “If we can do something quickly to get rid of it — or maybe just lessen it — it’s going to put him in a better spot on a day-to-day basis.
“He doesn’t want to have to manage the severity of this issue the rest of the year. He’d like to lessen it. He’s a 37-year-old relief pitcher; he’s going to have to deal with some things. It’s just figuring out the best way to navigate through a season.”
Pressly threw off a mound before the game, and though Counsell wouldn’t say for sure whether he’d be available Saturday, he was “encouraged by [Pressly’s] progress” and said “we’re trending in a good direction.”
Back in the bigs
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz finally returned to a major-league mound for the first time since 2021. The Cubs brought the veteran of 11 big-league seasons up Wednesday after acquiring him in a minor-league trade. Injury issues kept Pomeranz out of major-league action in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but he was finally back at it, striking out Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in a scoreless inning.
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