Chicago Cubs Starting Rotation Options

The Chicago Cubs have had to do some creative things with their pitching staff so far this season, but the rest of 2025 just got a lot more unpredictable with the injuries to the top two starters and instability at the bottom of the rotation in the last couple of weeks. If the Chicago Cubs want to stay afloat while they look for more secure long-term answers in the rotation, some guys are going to have to step into some key roles for some big innings.

Justin Steele is out for the season, and both Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad have tough injuries that make their status moving forward unpredictable. The process of finding a solid starting rotation is going to be crucial for the Cubs at this time. After fighting through one of the toughest starts to a season in MLB history, it’s time to stack some wins, and finding some suitors in the starting rotation is a key to making that happen.

Chicago Cubs Starting Pitching Depth Challenged

The Chicago Cubs knew they were going to be aggressive this season. They traded for Kyle Tucker and signed a lot of veterans to show that this season was going to be massive for the future of the Chicago Cubs.

The team was aggressive in free agency and brought in some depth arms that are proving to be value signings so far in 2025. Colin Rea and Brad Keller were signed in free agency, and Drew Pomeranz was traded for earlier this season, although his work has been limited to the bullpen during his Cubs tenure so far.

When Justin Steele went down with his season-ending elbow injury, Colin Rea stepped up nicely into his spot in the rotation. The Chicago Cubs will now have to do that with Shota Imanaga as well, while he recovers from his left hamstring strain. Not helping the situation is that Javier Assad is still out with his right oblique injury that has kept him from toeing the rubber all year for the Cubs.

So, moving forward for the next couple of weeks, as the Cubs turn towards an easier part of their schedule, they will need some pitchers to step u,p and there are some who have been waiting for their opportunity who will have their chance.

Options to Step Up in Starting Rotation

With Imanaga, Steele, and Assad all out, the rotation starts with Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd. Both veterans have been putting up solid numbers, with Boyd especially adjusting well in his first season with the Chicago Cubs. Behind them, there is a huge drop-off in reliability for Craig Counsell and his staff.

The two incumbents to the other spots in the rotation are Ben Brown and Colin Rea. Brown is on a tight leash and may even make a return to the bullpen if he is unable to get deep into ball games starting soon. His future with this team will be on the major league staff, perhaps just not in the rotation.

Colin Rea has fit in well to make up for the injury to Justin Steele, but with a veteran like Rea, you can never be too sure when he is going to need some help stretching out ball games, although like I said, so far he has wrapped up a spot and will have it until he gives it up.

With the newest spot to open in the starting rotation, there are some options for Craig Counsell to consider. Until some of their starters start to get back healthy and in the rotation, Craig Counsell will likely look towards Chris Flexen, Cade Horton, Drew Pomeranz, or Jordan Wicks to fill one or more slots in the starting rotation.

Chris Flexen was signed by the team in the off-season and added the the major league roster before the end of April. In five innings of bullpen work so far, he hasn’t surrendered a run. Cade Horton just made his debut Saturday night, and if the Cubs want to give their top prospect the runway of the fifth starter’s job, Horton could wrap up a rotation spot for a while. Pomeranz has delivered out of the bullpen, working 7.2 scoreless innings since being acquired. If the Cubs want to give one more chance to Jordan Wicks, they could let him rise or fall with this opportunity.