Rea is expected to begin the season working as a reliever after Ben Brown was named the Cubs' No. 5 starter Tuesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Rea appeared to have the upper hand for Chicago's final rotation spot after Jordan Wicks was optioned to Triple-A Iowa last week, but Ben Brown will instead get the nod with Javier Assad (oblique) on the shelf. Rea is likely to receive some starts at some point this season, but his 4.29 ERA and 7.2 K/9 across 167.2 regular-season innings with Milwaukee last year suggest he won't have much fantasy relevance.
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Cubs' Vidal Brujan: Elbow issue could force IL stint
Rotowire
Brujan could need a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow injury, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Brujan banged the elbow against the wall while trying to make a catch over the weekend and the issue has lingered. When healthy, Brujan will serve in a utility role with the Cubs.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Nabs rotation spot
Rotowire
The Cubs informed Brown on Tuesday that he will begin the season as the club's No. 5 starter, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old took the loss out of the bullpen in the season opener in Japan last week as he surrendered three runs (two earned) across 2.2 innings, but he apparently showed enough during camp to win the rotation spot. Brown started in eight of his 15 appearances as a rookie last year and had a 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB across 55.1 innings, and he may need to perform similarly this year to retain the rotation spot since Javier Assad (oblique) will potentially return early in the season.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Appears ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Hoerner (forearm) will start at second base and bat sixth in Tuesday's exhibition game against Atlanta.
Hoerner will close out the spring having started at the keystone in three of the Cubs' final five games. He has just one hit in six at-bats through his first two starts, but assuming that he's been able to get some additional swings in against live pitching between batting practice and minor-league games, Hoerner looks like he'll be ready to handle an everyday role when the Cubs play their first domestic series of the season later this week in Arizona. While he was still completing his recovery from the flexor tendon surgery he underwent in October, Hoerner wasn't available last week for the Cubs' two-game season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers, resulting in Jon Berti picking up a pair of starts at second base.
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Cubs' Porter Hodge: Mixed results this spring
Rotowire
Hodge, who allowed two runs over one inning during Monday's Cactus League game against Atlanta, has a 5.14 ERA and 10 strikeouts across seven frames this spring.
Hodge is missing plenty of bats during the exhibition slate but has otherwise been a bit underwhelming on the mound. It is a small sample, and the young righty should still be a high-leverage reliever for the Cubs once the regular season begins. Hodge figures to work ahead of offseason acquisition Ryan Pressly, though the former will likely still see save opportunities like he did in 2024, particularly if Pressly struggles or gets hurt.
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Cubs' Ryan Brasier: Spring struggles continue
Rotowire
Brasier allowed four runs on four hits while retiring just one batter in Monday's Cactus League game against Atlanta.
It was a nightmarish outing for Brasier, who allowed three home runs among the five batters he faced. The veteran righty now has an 8.31 ERA this spring, and while his spot in Chicago's bullpen should still be secure, it's not the most promising start to his tenure with the team. Brasier figures to get an opportunity to right the ship once the regular season begins and work in a setup role ahead of Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge, though he could be supplanted by other relievers if his struggles continue.
Little (lat) struck out two and scattered three hits over 1.1 scoreless innings in his Cactus League appearance Friday versus the Padres.
Little suffered a season-ending left lat strain last July and was eased along slowly in spring training, as he didn't make any appearances before the Cubs opened their campaign with a two-game set versus the Dodgers in Tokyo last week. The Cubs had already optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on March 7, and his ability to make his spring debut Friday suggests that he'll likely avoid a stint on Iowa's injured list to begin the season. Little remains a member of the Cubs' 40-man roster and should have a good chance at surfacing in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Could be ready for domestic opener
Rotowire
Hoerner (forearm) is expected to be available for the Cubs' domestic season opener Thursday in Arizona, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Despite missing most of the spring training slate as well as the Cubs' two-game, season-opening set versus the Dodgers in Tokyo earlier this month, Hoerner looks as though he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. He'll start at second base most days when available, though he can also give Dansby Swanson an occasional break at shortstop. Hoerner is likely to bat near the bottom of Chicago's lineup, unless he supplants Ian Happ as the leadoff hitter at any point. Hoerner's key fantasy asset is his speed, as he recorded a total of 74 stolen bases over the past two seasons, and he should run plenty no matter where he slots into the batting order.
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Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Wraps up spring slate
Rotowire
Boyd allowed three runs on six hits across 5.2 innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics. He walked one and struck out three.
It was an uneven start for Boyd, who served up a pair of Oakland home runs. However, the veteran southpaw also had his longest outing of the spring, which is a positive step for a player who has dealt with numerous injuries the past few years. Boyd is in line to serve as the Cubs' No. 4 starter this season and projects to make his debut next Sunday against the Diamondbacks on the road. If healthy, he could be a sneaky fantasy option, though Chicago will likely monitor the 34-year-old's workload closely.
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Cubs' Vidal Brujan: Could get squeezed
Rotowire
Brujan may get bumped off of Chicago's roster once Nico Hoerner (forearm) is able to return, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Brujan or Gage Workman are the two players most likely to lose their spot to Hoerner, but Workman would have to be returned to Detroit as a Rule 5 pick if he gets pushed off the MLB roster. Brujan is out of minor-league options himself, so he would need to be designated for assignment in that scenario. Hoerner could be ready for the domestic season opener or soon after, so neither player will have much time to make a positive impression.
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Cubs' Gage Workman: May stick around
Rotowire
Workman could stay on the MLB roster once Nico Hoerner (forearm) returns, with Vidal Brujan losing his spot instead, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Workman made Chicago's roster for its two-game set in Tokyo last week, and the Rule 5 draft may be the favorite to stick around once Hoerner is back, which could be in time for the domestic opener later this week or soon after. In that scenario, Brujan would be designated for assignment, as he is out of minor-league options. If the Cubs prefer to keep Brujan and dump Workman, the latter would have to be returned to Detroit.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Still competing for fifth spot
Rotowire
Brown remains in the mix for the Cubs' No. 5 rotation spot along with Colin Rea, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Brown took the loss in relief in Chicago's season opener in Tokyo on Tuesday, but he could slot into the rotation once the Cubs begin the domestic portion of their season later this week. The veteran Rea seems like the favorite for the role, with Brown shifting to long relief, but manager Craig Counsell said he is still considering both pitchers. Javier Assad (oblique) could ultimately reclaim the spot once he returns, but either Brown or Rea should see a short-term boost in fantasy value, depending on whichever player is starting.
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Cubs' Tyson Miller: Headed to injured list
Rotowire
Miller will begin the season on the injured list with a left hip impingement, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Miller had a tough time finding his footing on the mound this spring, finishing the Cactus League schedule with nine earned runs allowed over just 4.2 innings, though he managed to strike out seven batters in the process. He'll head to the IL to begin the 2025 campaign and may be relegated to a middle-relief role in the Cubs' bullpen once healthy.
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Cubs' Cade Horton: Effective in second spring start
Rotowire
Horton tossed two scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He allowed a hit and two walks while striking out one.
Horton started a spring training game back on March 8 and got another turn Friday. The 23-year-old pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A last year, and he figures to return to Triple-A Iowa this season for an extended look at that level. If Horton pitches well there, he could push for his MLB debut at some point in the summer, though Chicago would have to open up a spot on its 40-man roster to make room for the young righty. He's an intriguing prospect who would have some fantasy appeal once he makes it to the majors.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Appears set for No. 5 role
Rotowire
With Jordan Wicks optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Rea appears locked into the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation.
Wicks was on Chicago's roster for its two-game set against the Dodgers in Tokyo, but he'll head to Triple-A once the domestic regular season gets underway later this month. That should leave Rea as the fifth starter, at least until Javier Assad (oblique) is able to return. Rea should get a boost in fantasy value as a result, though he's probably best used only in favorable matchups as he doesn't offer overpowering stuff. The veteran righty posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 27 starts for the Brewers during the 2024 regular season.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: First domestic start not revealed
Rotowire
Imanaga will not start either of the Cubs' first two games during their March 27-30 series against the Diamondbacks, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Imanaga started the first game of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers and spun four scoreless innings. However, he will have to wait until at least the third game back in the states, as the Cubs will go with Justin Steele in their domestic opener and follow him with Jameson Taillon.
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Cubs' Justin Steele: Slated for domestic opener
Rotowire
Steele will start the Cubs' domestic opener March 27 in Arizona, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Steele started the second game of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers this week -- allowing five runs over four innings -- and will get the first turn back home. He will be followed by Jameson Taillon against the Diamondbacks.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Making spring debut Friday
Rotowire
Hoener (forearm) is starting at second base and batting second in Friday's Cactus League game against the Padres.
The 27-year-old missed the Cubs' season-opening series versus the Dodgers in Tokyo this week while continuing to rehab from October flexor tendon surgery, but he still appears to have a chance of being available for the domestic opener in Arizona on Thursday. However, with the resumption of Chicago's schedule less than a week away, the organization may want to give Hoerner a bit more time to rack up game reps. Regardless, the second baseman's spring debut is a major step toward full clearance, and it doesn't appear Hoerner will miss much more of the regular season.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Wicks to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Ryan Herrera of JustBaseball.com reports.
Wicks was included on the Cubs' roster for their two-game set in Tokyo versus the Dodgers earlier this week, but he didn't make the cut for their domestic opener. The left-hander will be part of the rotation at Iowa as he waits for another big-league opportunity. With Wicks being sent down, Colin Rea appears to be locked into the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation.
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