This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Through the peaks and valleys of the Cubs¡¯ offense last season, plus the early-season turbulence experienced by the bullpen, it was the starting rotation that served as the steady source of reliability. Chicago is counting on that remaining the case this year to make a realistic run at the October stage.

There is still time to try to add to the group -- the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes will have a conclusion this month and there are still intriguing free agents out there (most notably: Jack Flaherty) -- but here is a look at how the Cubs¡¯ rotation stands as of now.

Locks: Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon

Imanaga, Steele and Taillon give the Cubs a formidable trio at the top. Last season, those three combined for a 3.08 ERA in 473 1/3 innings.

Imanaga was the big story last year, when he made the All-Star team, started a no-hitter, set some rookie records and finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards. The lefty went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings, and will return in ¡®25 with a foundation of expectations.

Both Steele (24 starts) and Taillon (28 starts) missed some time due to injury setbacks, but they were both effective and consistent when on the mound.

After contending for the NL Cy Young Award in ¡®23, Steele posted eerily similar rate statistics in ¡®24, ending with a 3.07 ERA. Taillon¡¯s 122 ERA+ was his best since 2018 (also 122) and he ended with a 3.27 ERA overall. Dating back to July 7, 2023, Taillon actually ranks seventh among all qualified MLB pitchers in ERA (3.30).

Boyd, who will turn 34 on Feb. 2, is the newcomer to the group after signing a two-year, $29 million contract. The lefty returned from Tommy John surgery last year and logged a 2.28 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP in 11 starts between the regular season and playoffs for Cleveland. In 51 1/3 innings, he struck out 60, walked 19 and yielded just four homers.

Fifth starter front-runners: Javier Assad, Colin Rea

Barring an addition to the group before Opening Day, Assad looks like the favorite for the fifth spot. Since the righty debuted in ¡®22, only Imanaga and Steele have a lower starter¡¯s ERA than Assad¡¯s 3.45 showing (among the nine Cubs with at least 17 starts in that span). Assad has been consistent and earned high praise from manager Craig Counsell last year.

Rea, who joined the fold via a one-year deal worth $5 million guaranteed, appears to be a fit for a swingman role on Counsell¡¯s staff. The righty worked 167 2/3 innings for the Brewers last season and pitched for Counsell in Milwaukee in ¡®23. Rea gives the Cubs an experienced arm who can fill numerous jobs, depending on need.

Next in line: Ben Brown, Caleb Kilian, Cody Poteet, Jordan Wicks

Wicks made the Opening Day rotation last year and Brown joined the group early on as well, but both young arms dealt with injury woes and combined for just 101 1/3 innings on the season. If healthy, they have a real chance to impact the group. If the rotation is not in the cards to start the season, they could head to Triple-A Iowa or compete for spots in Chicago¡¯s bullpen.

Kilian and Poteet rank below Brown and Wicks on the depth chart. The Cubs secured a fourth Minor League option year for Kilian, so the team has the flexibility to send him to Iowa if he does not make the Opening Day roster. Poteet (acquired from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger deal) also offers a swingman type who could serve as rotation depth or contend for a relief role.

Coming soon: Brandon Birdsell, Cade Horton

Neither Horton (Pipeline¡¯s No. 3 Cubs prospect and No. 42 on the Top 100) nor Birdsell (No. 21 on the Cubs¡¯ Top 30 list) are expected to be in the Opening Day plans for the North Siders, but they could reach The Show in ¡®25. Horton (first-round pick in the ¡®22 Draft) might have reached Chicago last year had he not been limited to nine outings due to injury. Birdsell (fifth round of ¡®22 Draft) posted a 3.91 ERA with 134 strikeouts and 31 walks in 135 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season.