Rea was optioned to the Cubs' alternate training site Thursday, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was recently demoted to the bullpen after Adbert Alzolay was named the starter for Thursday's contest. However, he'll now report to South Bend. It appears as though the Cubs will continue to use Alzolay in their rotation while Jose Quintana (lat) and Tyler Chatwood (forearm) remain sidelined, but Rea could be one of the Cubs'top options to fill in if further injuries occur to their pitching staff.

Rea is expected to return to the bullpen this week with the Cubs listing Adbert Alzolay as their starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Reds, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With both Jose Quintana (lat) and Tyler Chatwood (forearm) on the injured list, the Cubs added fifth and sixth starters to their rotation for Saturday's doubleheader with the Cardinals. Both Alzolay and Rea received nods, and while neither impressed, the Cubs seemingly have faith that the young right-hander can provide them with more than the 2.2 innings he offered in the first game of Saturday's twin bill. Rea, meanwhile, started the second game, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks in two innings before being pulled from the contest.

Rea (1-1) allowed four runs on five hits across two innings to take the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He walked two and struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Rea pitched a scoreless first inning but things went downhill quickly from there. He allowed two home runs in the second, then started the third by allowing three straight singles before getting the hook. Rea's ERA climbed to 5.79 in the process. The righty is likely to return to the bullpen at some point, but with both Jose Quintana (lat) and Tyler Chatwood (forearm) currently on the shelf, Rea remains an option to make some spot starts.

Rea worked two innings out of the bullpen Friday in the Cubs' 10-1 loss to the White Sox, giving up a run on two hits while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Rea's previous appearance came as a starter last weekend versus Milwaukee, when he joined the rotation on short notice after Tyler Chatwood (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Jose Quintana (thumb) looks on track to return from the IL during the upcoming week to assume Chatwood's rotation spot moving forward, so Rea will likely stick around in the bullpen as a multi-inning option. Chicago will have doubleheaders coming up next week and in the first week of September that may result in the team temporarily adding a sixth member to the rotation, but manager David Ross may prefer to give Adbert Alzolay a spot start over Rea after Alzolay tossed five scoreless frames against the Cardinals on Wednesday in his 2020 debut.

Rea allowed three earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out none across 3.1 innings Saturday against the Brewers. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Rea ran into little trouble through three innings, allowing only one baserunner in that span. However, after retiring the leadoff hitter in the fourth frame, he surrendered two singles and a double that accounted for all three of his earned runs. The Cubs have a pair of doubleheaders in the upcoming week, which should lock Rea into another turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Rea will start Saturday's game against the Brewers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rea will make a spot start after the Cubs had to make some adjustments to their rotation since Tyler Chatwood was scratched from his scheduled start Friday. Rea served mainly as a starter in the minors and in past major-league appearances but came out of the bullpen twice to begin the 2020 season, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Rea was recalled from the Cubs' alternate camp site Thursday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rea will replace Dillon Maples on the roster and in the bullpen. The right-hander spent all of last season with Triple-A Iowa, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 26 starts (148 innings). He'll likely provide length out of the bullpen for the Cubs.

Rea was assigned to the Cubs' alternate training site in South Bend Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rea was in the mix to begin the year as the team's fifth starter with Jose Quintana (thumb) out, but with Alec Mills securing that role, Rea was kept off the Opening Day roster. The 30-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2016, when he logged 20 total games (19 starts) with the Marlins and Padres.

Rea is a candidate to break camp as the Cubs' fifth starter after Jose Quintana underwent thumb surgery Thursday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Quintana's status for the start of the season in serious doubt, Alec Mills is the early frontrunner to step in as the team's fifth starter, though president of baseball operations Theo Epstein also mentioned Rea and Adbert Alzolay as potential options. Rea, who hasn't appeared in the majors since 2016, compiled a 3.95 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 120 strikeouts across 148 innings (26 starts) with Triple-A Iowa in 2019.

Rea will be a part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool this season and will head to Wrigley Field for summer camp.

EDGE Analysis

The Wrigley Field group is more likely to see significant MLB playing time than the players the club is sending to South Bend for camp, but Rea is still jockeying with 21 other pitchers. The 30-year-old hasn't appeared in the majors since 2016. He made 26 starts for Triple-A Iowa last season, compiling a 3.95 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 120 strikeouts across 148 innings.