Cubs Look to Bounce Back Against Phillies

Veteran pitcher Colin Rea expected to follow opener Riley Martin in rematch

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:22pm by

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes representing the dynamic action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes rematch between the injury-plagued Cubs and the surging Phillies.San Francisco Today

With injuries to the Chicago Cubs' rotation, veteran right-hander Colin Rea has become more valuable. Rea is expected to follow opener Riley Martin on Tuesday as the Cubs visit the Philadelphia Phillies, looking to rebound after a 13-7 loss in the series opener.

Why it matters

The Cubs are dealing with a rash of injuries to their starting pitchers, putting more pressure on Rea and the rest of the staff to step up and keep the team competitive in the early part of the season.

The details

Rea is coming off a strong outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, limiting them to one run over five innings. Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised Rea's ability to stay composed and force hitters to put the ball in play. The Phillies will counter with ace Aaron Nola, who is looking to bounce back after a tough outing against the San Francisco Giants.

  • The series opener was played on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • The second game of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Colin Rea

A veteran right-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who has become more valuable due to recent injuries to the team's rotation.

Riley Martin

A left-handed pitcher expected to serve as an opener for the Cubs in the second game of the series.

Aaron Nola

The ace right-handed pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, who is looking to bounce back after a tough outing in his last start.

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What they’re saying

“Guys are going to have to step up and fill those roles.”

— Colin Rea, Cubs Pitcher

“There's not going to be a situation where he's going to do too much. That's not who he is. Low heartbeat, however you want to say it, that's one of Colin's real strengths as an athlete and a competitor. He's not going to let the situation change him, and he'd give you this effort if he was pitching a beer-league game on Tuesday night in Iowa.”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

“Yeah, frustrating. He jumped on not-a-great pitch.”

— Aaron Nola, Phillies Pitcher

What’s next

The Cubs will look to even the series on Tuesday, while the Phillies aim to build on their Game 1 victory.

The takeaway

With their rotation depleted by injuries, the Cubs are relying on veteran pitchers like Rea to step up and keep the team competitive early in the season. The rematch against the Phillies will be a test of the Cubs' depth and resilience.