CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are swapping out left-handers.

The Cubs optioned reliever Luke Little to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday and recalled lefty Jordan Wicks to take his spot on the active roster. Little’s option to Iowa was reflected on their transactions page on Thursday and the team announced Wicks’ recall on Friday before the opening contest of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Wicks’ addition to the 26-man roster provides manager Craig Counsell with a bulk option in his bullpen. Colin Rea, Friday’s starter, served as the long-man in the Cubs’ relief corps but was moved into the rotation following Justin Steele’s season-ending injury. Steele went on the IL last week with elbow tendinitis and an MRI and second opinion showed the need for the operation, which he is undergoing Friday, he announced.

Rea made his first start with the Cubs in 2025 on Sunday – he tossed 3.2 innings of one-run ball against the potent Los Angeles Dodgers. He was signed to a one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason as a depth option and entered spring training in a competition for the final rotation spot. The Cubs ultimately opted for right-hander Ben Brown in that role and Rea started the season in the bullpen. He made three appearances in relief, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings with five hits allowed and a three-inning save.

The shift to the bullpen meant Rea isn’t fully stretched out – he threw 68 pitches in the start against the Dodgers and it’s fair to assume he will be on a pitch limit on Friday against Arizona. That made the addition of Wicks almost a necessity for the Cubs.

Wicks can provide bulk innings for Counsell on Friday – he was scheduled to start Thursday’s contest with Iowa but was scratched – and not have to eat into the Cubs bullpen early in a three-game set. If Wicks isn’t used on Friday, then he is an option to cover multiple innings the rest of the weekend, too.

Little was recalled from Iowa on Tuesday and made one appearance, allowing a run on four walks in 0.2 of an inning.