Boyd's return triggers a rotation shake-up. Which current starter faces a bullpen demotion: Javier Assad or Colin Rea?
The Chicago Cubs will have a decision to make once Matthew Boyd is activated from the 15-day injured list.
Boyd landed on the IL last Monday with a left bicep strain, but he is making significant progress in his recovery. The southpaw made his first rehab assignment start with the Iowa Cubs on Thursday afternoon.
He threw 64 pitches across 3 ⅔ innings and generated five swings-and-misses in that rehab start. Although Boyd gave up three runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in that outing, it was a good tune-up for the veteran.
The expectation is that Boyd will rejoin the Cubs rotation after only one rehab start. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported that the left-hander is targeting a return on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
With Boyd’s return looming, the Cubs will need to decide which current starter gets bumped to the bullpen. It definitely won’t be Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, or Edward Cabrera.
That leaves either Javier Assad or Colin Rea as the likeliest starter to move to the bullpen. Neither pitcher started the 2026 season in the Cubs' rotation, and both would thrive in that long relief role out of the bullpen.
Rea has experience in that exact role, as he started the year in Chicago’s bullpen. He earned a three-inning save against the Angels back on March 30 and allowed just one run across 3 ⅓ innings in his second relief appearance on April 3.
Rea has also thrived as a starter since taking Cade Horton’s spot in the rotation. He threw five innings of one-run ball with two strikeouts against the Rays and then delivered six innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts as a bulk reliever against the Phillies on Tuesday.
As for Assad, he hasn’t been as consistent on the mound since being called up. He threw 5 ⅔ shutout innings against the Rays in his first start, but allowed nine earned runs in his most recent outing against the Phillies on Monday.
Both Rea and Assad will have one more turn through the rotation before Boyd is activated on Wednesday. Assad is the probable starter for Sunday’s game against the Mets, and Rea should make his scheduled start on Monday against the Phillies.
Those outings could determine which pitcher stays in the rotation and which pitcher makes the move to the bullpen.
It’s really a toss-up on how this will shake out, but Rea could be the one to move to the bullpen. He has been really effective as a reliever dating back to last season, and the Cubs could likely trust him more in that long relief role.