Sports
Pitching-strapped Cubs turn to Colin Rea to start against Rays
Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Colin Rea (53) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs are dealing with pitching injuries they’ve been handed this week, losing starters Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton.
Boyd is dealing with a left biceps strain that led to the team placing him on the 15-day injured list on Monday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he expects the left-hander, an All-Star last season, will return later in April after a “minimum stint” on the IL. Right-hander Javier Assad will replace him in the meantime.
Horton’s status is a more of a long-term concern. The runner-up in last year’s National League Rookie of the Year voting will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, as the right-hander has been slated for elbow surgery.
It’s a disappointing blow at the top of the Cubs’ rotation, but Assad’s first outing was a good omen for the team’s chances to weather the storm, as he recorded 5 2/3 shutout innings in Chicago’s 9-2 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. As a result, the Cubs are in a position take the three-game series in Wednesday’s decider. For that hope, they will turn to right-hander Colin Rea as he occupies Horton’s spot in the rotation for the first time.
Rea is no stranger to this role, having made 27 starts for Chicago last season. He’s 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 6 1/3 innings in 2026. A former Padre, Marlin and Brewer, Rea is 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 innings over two starts vs. Tampa Bay in his career.
Injuries are a fact of life for every MLB team, and the Cubs are turning to Rea as part of a next-man-up mentality to get through the season.
“That’s how this works, is that someone’s going to get an opportunity,” Counsell said. “Colin’s going to be asked to pitch more innings than out of the bullpen, and someone’s going to take Colin’s bullpen innings.
“We’ve got opportunity ahead of us,” Counsell continued. “That’s how you look at it.”
On the other side of the pitching matchup, Joe Boyle (0-0, 3.18 ERA) will go for the Rays on Wednesday.
Boyle has never faced the Cubs in his brief MLB career. The right-hander has made 24 career starts in 31 games, debuting for the Athletics in 2023 before coming to Tampa Bay via a trade in December 2024.
The Rays have a fun young player to track — and a possible early contender for American League batting champion — in outfielder Chandler Simpson.
The 25-year-old, who stole 44 bases in his rookie season last year, is off to a hot start in 2026. Simpson has had seven multi-hit games through 11 outings, leading the league with a .405 batting average after two more hits in a losing effort on Tuesday night.
He also has flashed the glove on occasion, making a leaping grab at the wall in left field to rob Ian Happ of extra bases in the third inning of Tampa Bay’s 6-4 win over the Cubs in the series opener on Monday.
Simpson credits his mindset heading into this season for his all-round success.
“It’s really just caring, honestly, not really just thinking of myself as someone that just hits, gets on base, steals bags, but somebody that can impact the game on defense as well,” Simpson said before Tuesday’s game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Struggles Are Becoming a Problem for the Cubs
Last season was an awesome year for the North Side of Chicago. Young players broke out on offense, and the pitching staff became one of the best in baseball. 2025 was a season of highs for the Cubs, but 2026 has been off to a very rocky start.
The injury bug continues to devastate the pitching rotation, as Jason Steele continues to recover from his Tommy John surgery. Cade Horton joins Steele as he will miss the rest of the season with Tommy John surgery, and Matthew Boyd finds himself on the IL as well with a bicep strain. Boyd should be returning shortly, but with his laundry list of previous injuries, it’s smart to keep him healthy for the long haul.
However, I’m not worried about this pitching rotation. Even through injuries, they have the pieces to keep them afloat; my main worry comes on offense.
Pete Crow-Armstrong signed a 6-year, $115 million contract this offseason, and it felt like a smart move for the Cubs. Locking in the best defensive center fielder in the sport, who just hit 30 home runs in his breakout season, was a widely approved move in Wrigleyville. I’m not sure it will be as great a move for the Cubs in the long run.
After the All-Star Game last year, PCA showed clear signs of slowing. He slashed .216/.262/.372 with only 6 home runs, and struck out 68 times. He struggled with elevated fastballs and pitches out of the zone, and that’s continued into 2026.
He holds a 46% chase rate, 28% whiff rate, and 26% strikeout rate, all of which have increased since 2025. To make matters worse, his barrel rate has fallen off a cliff. You can’t be as aggressive as PCA, chasing pitches out of the zone, when you’re not walking at all, or crushing the ball. Crow-Armstrong is slugging only .349 this season, down from his cold second half last year.
What’s the scariest part about these struggles is that PCA might be exceeding his projected stats as well. He has a .289 wOBA and a .235 xwOBA, where the league average for wOBA is around .320.
PCA will always provide value due to his all-world abilities to roam the outfield, but a $100 million player needs to provide more than just a glove. The Cubs were 7th in baseball in OPS last season and, with their slow start, are only 16th. Seyia Suzuki, returning from injury, should fix some of those issues, but they’ll need PCA to get going if they want to contend in what could be a loaded NL Central.
Sports
Why None of These NBA Play-In Teams Are True Contenders
Jan 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates a turnover by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard.
Star power to enjoy … check.
The Hornets, Suns and Trail Blazers.
Plucky underdogs to root for … check.
The prospect of playing the Thunder, Spurs, Pistons or Celtics next … ugh.
With the eight participants coming more into focus, it appears the NBA will have some intriguing matchups in its play-in games next week.
But let’s be honest: There’s a reason these aren’t called the playoffs. And why the stats don’t count.
That’s because they are nothing more than exhibitions.
There isn’t a single team among the octet that has a chance to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Half will be lucky to win a game.
So while it’s fun to watch Prairie View experience one shining moment at the expense of a school whose students can see actual buildings outside their window, you eventually come to the realization that you’re watching the junior varsity prelim to the marquee event.
Here’s why while some likely participants will be worth watching early next week, you’ll have better things to do by next weekend …
Philadelphia 76ers
Oct 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images If I had a Ben Franklin for every time I’ve heard the phrase “when they get healthy …” – I’d bet it all on that team not being healthy within a week of when it got all green lights. If it ever did happen. With Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey going triple-threat on some outclassed opponent in the Eastern 7-8 play-in, it might actually catch the attention of the Celtics, who await in the real deal.
And then when Embiid, George or Maxey – or some combination thereof – can’t remain upright for more than 25 minutes in Boston, you’ll be left muttering: Why can’t this be a best-of-three?
Orlando Magic
Jan 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Kia Center. credits: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Here’s 76ers Lite. Let’s call them the Six-Seveners because they’ve become the ultimate “so-so” team in the NBA. This half-good squad has one loss/one win written all over it in the play-in, so the Magic better be praying for the 7-8’s double-elimination advantage. Then 6-7 would turn into 4, as in a first-round sweep by the Pistons.
Charlotte Hornets
The let-it-fly Hornets earn the right to be the people’s choice in this group, but unless the Raptors drop into the play-in, they won’t have anybody who’ll run with them. This type of first-one-to-130-wins entertainer NEVER succeeds in the playoffs, but at least we could get an answer to one of basketball’s most pressing questions … Who’s the most clever passer in the game today, LaMelo Ball or Caitlin Clark?
Miami Heat
Kinda like Dan Hurley, you don’t want to mess with Erik Spoelstra in the postseason. At least until the Finals. Even should they land 10th, they’d be the last team the Celtics would want to see in Round 1. Remember 2023? They are winners vs. losers in a matchup with the Magic, and defense vs. offense should they draw the Hornets. That plays in the postseason … until you run into bigger winners and better defenders at the end of the week.
Phoenix Suns
Jan 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images For the life of me, I can’t figure out what J.B. Bickerstaff has done to warrant Coach of the Year consideration. Boston’s Joe Mazzulla and Phoenix’s Jordan Ott were supposed to be playing Musical Chairs at the draft lottery venue by mid-April. Instead, their teams each won about 20 more games than expected. Unfortunately for Ott – who should get the award – it takes more than coaching (unless you’re Spoelstra) to win at this point. Still, a Suns-Trail Blazers showdown for Western Surprise Team of the Year would be entertaining and appropriate.
Los Angeles Clippers
You don’t get many Kawhi Leonard-Stephen Curry matchups in the play-in, so that’s a second reason to root for the Trail Blazers to land eighth and the Clippers ninth. But even the hobbled Warriors would have a chance to beat the Clippers, who wrote off the season when they dealt James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline. Still, Leonard vs. Curry would be a 30-minute blast, wouldn’t it? (They don’t do 48 anymore.) Then again, a 7-8 win would send Kawhi to San Antonio, which could get interesting.
Portland Trail Blazers
Warriors fans are praying to get the Trail Blazers in the 9-10 game, even at Portland, because of the host’s lack of playoff experience. But be careful what you wish for. Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis … with all the games they’ve missed this season, not a single one was due to dizziness. But by halftime of this one-team track meet, that could change.
Golden State Warriors
Don’t look now, but any of the four teams in the Eastern play-in would be a clear-cut favorite in the West. Who’d have thought we’d ever seen that day? With just two “happy to be here” teams and a has-been in their way, the door is certainly open for the Warriors to win twice on the road and make it to the weekend against the Thunder. But you know what they say …
“When they get healthy …”
Sports
Giants' Daniel Susac hopes to continue fast start vs. Phillies
Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac (6) looks on during an interview after the game against the New York Mets at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Daniel Susac’s start to his career has been so eye-opening that the rookie catcher has earned himself more at-bats.
Susac became the first player in Giants history to open his career with five consecutive hits, and San Francisco manager Tony Vitello indicated he’s ready to write Susac’s name on the lineup card more frequently.
The mystery is whether Susac will be in the lineup for the second straight day on Wednesday afternoon when the Giants close a three-game set with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
Susac, 24, went 3-for-4 with a two-run triple in Tuesday night’s 6-0 victory over the Phillies. When he started 2-for-2 for his fifth hit in a row this season, he was one safety away from becoming the first player to start his career 6-for-6 since Ted Cox of the Boston Red Sox in 1977.
Susac fell short of Cox when he flied out in the sixth inning. Still, the rookie surpassed a big name for the team mark in Hall of Famer Willie McCovey (4-for-4 in 1959).
Susac is batting .857 while regular catcher Patrick Bailey is struggling at .129 with four hits (all singles) in 31 at-bats.
“I think he’s obviously earned the right to be out there for us more often,” Vitello said of Susac. “It would be good for those guys.
“I think they have a good friendship and also a good working relationship. … It’s not an easy thing to go out there all the time. You’ll be seeing plenty of both guys as the season goes on.”
Susac was a Rule 5 Draft pick in the offseason by the Minnesota Twins out of the Athletics’ organization. He later was traded to the Giants. He saw an opportunity with them and worked on his approach.
“A lot of it has to do with offseason changes I made,” Susac said. “Just being a lot calmer at the plate, smooth, seeing the ball a little better.
“Growing up, my strength was the opposite side of the field. So getting back to that … taking what they give me as well.”
Philadelphia had just four hits in Tuesday’s loss, and the defense had issues in the fifth inning.
Star shortstop Trea Turner fumbled a grounder that appeared to be a double play. Later in the inning, left fielder Otto Kemp’s reaction time was slow as Matt Chapman’s RBI double sailed over his head.
“Hindsight, I wish I would have tried to beat the ball to the spot,” Kemp said. “Better chance to make that play rather than trying to jump up.”
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto exited in the bottom of the first inning due to a bruised right foot. He was hit with a foul ball off the bat of San Francisco’s Rafael Devers.
“X-rays were negative,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ll re-evaluate (Wednesday).”
Thomson said Rafael Marchan will start at catcher on Wednesday. Marchan was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday.
Aaron Nola (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will start for the Phillies in the finale against fellow right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-2, 7.00) of the Giants.
Nola, 32, beat the Colorado Rockies on Friday when he gave up one run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked one in a 10-1 victory.
Nola has struggled against San Francisco, going 3-3 with a 7.00 ERA in nine career starts. Willy Adames is just 1-for-19 with 10 strikeouts against him while Matt Chapman is 3-for-7.
Mahle, 31, served up two homers while allowing five runs and eight hits over five innings in a 10-3 loss to the New York Mets on Friday. He struck out four and walked two.
Mahle is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber (5-for-18) has homered twice off him.
–Field Level Media
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