Assad (4-1) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out six over 5.1 shutout innings to earn the win Sunday over the Cardinals.
Assad closed out the regular season by winning four of his last five outings, one of which was a relief appearance. In that span, he gave up nine runs across 23 innings with a 14:9 K:BB. The right-hander has a 3.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB across 37 innings through eight appearances (seven starts) this season. His 79-pitch outing Sunday will likely keep him off the Cubs' roster for the wild-card round versus the Padres, but Assad could be included in the bullpen if Chicago advances to the NLDS.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Receiving another start
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Assad is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
Assad will make a second straight start to close out the regular season after allowing two earned runs over four innings in a no-decision his last time out Sept. 20 versus the Reds. Since the Cubs will begin a best-of-three wild-card series versus the Padres on Tuesday, Assad likely won't be rested enough to remain in consideration for a roster spot during the first round of the playoffs.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Drawing start Saturday
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Assad is slated to start Saturday's game in Cincinnati, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth but are six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central standings heading into play Saturday, so the team is essentially locked into a best-of-three wild-card series in the postseason. As a result, the Cubs appear content to build in an extra day of rest for their rotation members heading into the playoffs and will do so by having Assad make a spot start Saturday. Since moving to the bullpen earlier this month, Assad's lone relief appearance was a 2.1-inning outing back on Sept. 14, so he should be well rested and capable of providing plenty of length Saturday. Over six appearances (five starts) for the big club this season, Assad has gone 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Goes four frames in no-decision
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Assad did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Reds, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts over two innings.
Assad managed just 43 strikes on 74 pitches and generated only four whiffs in his first start since Sept. 5. The 28-year-old has logged a 4.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB across 31.2 innings through seven appearances (six starts) this season. If the Cubs elect to give him another turn in the rotation, he's lined up for a home matchup with the Cardinals next weekend.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Set to return to bullpen
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Assad is expected to move to the bullpen later this week with Jameson Taillon (groin) set to return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Assad has made five starts for the Cubs this season after recovering from a strained oblique, turning in a 4.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 25.1 innings. However, Taillon's imminent return leaves Chicago with a full rotation that also includes Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea. Assad pitched well in a swingman role back in 2023, when he compiled a 3.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 109.1 innings across 10 starts and 22 relief appearances. The righty will likely once again give the Cubs some length out of the bullpen, and he's capable of making a spot start if needed.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Good enough in win
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Assad (2-1) earned the win against the Nationals on Friday, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Assad threw just 49 of 81 pitches for strikes and generated six whiffs but still worked into the sixth inning for a third straight outing. The 28-year-old gave up two runs in the fourth before being charged with two more after exiting with two on in the sixth. He owns a 4.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB across 25.1 innings this season and is likely headed back to the bullpen with Jameson Taillon (groin) set to return next week.
Cubs' Javier Assad: Turns in quality start in Colorado
Rotowire
Assad (1-1) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one over six innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Saturday.
Assad was able to earn his second quality start in a row, putting together an efficient outing in Colorado. He threw just 46 of 80 pitches for strikes, but he was able to hold the Rockies largely at bay until he started to fade in the sixth inning. Assad is now at a 4.05 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB through 20 innings over four starts this season. Jameson Taillon (groin) isn't eligible to return until the second week of September at the earliest, so Assad should be penciled in to make his next start at home versus the Nationals.
Cubs' Javier Assad: Taking over for injured Taillon
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Chicago sent Assad back to the minors after he made a spot start this past Saturday, when he allowed one earned run and struck out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Angels. Assad didn't have to wait long to return to the Cubs, as he'll slot back into the rotation as a replacement for Jameson Taillon (groin), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Assad is in line to make his next start Saturday against the Rockies at Coors Field.
The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Assad was called up to start Friday's game against the Halos, and he'll be sent right back to Triple-A in favor of Jordan Wicks. Assad has a 3.86 ERA in three starts with Chicago this season, and an even better 2.93 ERA in four starts with Iowa.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Settles for no-decision
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Assad didn't factor into the decision against the Angels on Friday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings.
The right-hander's lone blemish came on a solo homer by Yoan Moncada in the fifth, but Assad otherwise kept Los Angeles in check across his six efficient innings. It was just Assad's third start of the season, as he stepped into the rotation following the injury to Ryan Brasier. Through those three outings, the 28-year-old Assad has posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 14 innings.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Recalled, starting Friday vs. Halos
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The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa, and he is scheduled to start against the Angels on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Assad will take the spot on the Cubs' 26-man roster vacated by Ryan Brasier (groin), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Assad was dispatched to Triple-A on Monday, but he'll provide some short-term relief in the rotation with Michael Soroka (shoulder) on the 15-day IL.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Dispatched to minors
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The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Assad permitted five runs on 13 hits and two walks over eight innings in his two starts with the big club. He will cede his rotation spot to Jameson Taillon (calf), who will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Cubs' five-game series with the Brewers that opens Monday with a doubleheader.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Better in second outing
Rotowire
Assad didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Pirates, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.
While Assad was limited to 65 pitches Sunday, it was a step in the right direction for the 28-year-old right-hander, who gave up four runs over four innings in his season debut against the Blue Jays. Still, Assad, who pitched to a 3.73 ERA in 29 starts last season, could find himself relegated to a bullpen role down the stretch with Jameson Taillon (calf) scheduled to return to the rotation Monday.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Picking up another start
Rotowire
Assad is slated to start Sunday's game against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Assad had spent the entire season on the shelf while recovering from a left oblique strain before he returned from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. The right-hander endured a rough 2025 debut, taking a loss while allowing four earned runs on eight hits and one walk over four innings. Though Assad will be in line for at least one more start Sunday, his stay in the big-league rotation could soon come to an end with Jameson Taillon (calf) tracking toward a return from the injured list next week.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Back from IL, starting Tuesday
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The Cubs activated Assad (oblique) from the 60-day injured list, and he's expected to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ben Brown had originally been slotted in as Tuesday night's starter in Toronto, but Assad is back from the IL and will make his 2025 season debut after coming back from a strained oblique. Assad made five rehab starts in the minors, pitching to the tune of a 2.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB across 18.1 innings. He built up to 68 pitches in his latest rehab start last Wednesday.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Poor showing in season debut
Rotowire
Assad (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against Toronto, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out two.
Assad struggled in his season debut, and most of the damage was done courtesy of an Ernie Clement three-run home run in the fourth inning. The right-hander threw just 70 pitches in his first start off the 60-day injured list due to an oblique injury, so he still has some building up to do after tossing 68 pitches in his final rehab start for Triple-A Iowa. That said, Assad won't be a recommended streaming option as he aims to extend his pitch count next week versus the first-place Brewers.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Goes 4.1 innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Assad (oblique) struck out four and allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks across 4.1 innings for Triple-A Iowa in the third start of his rehab assignment Wednesday.
Assad is still waiting to make his 2025 debut with the Cubs, as he was placed on the injured list coming out of spring training due to a left oblique strain, then suffered a setback in his recovery in late April following a pair of rehab starts. He was cleared to kick off a new rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break, and he's now built up to 68 pitches through three outings. Assad is likely to make at least one more rehab start before the Cubs bring him back from the 60-day IL and decide whether to use him in the rotation or as a long reliever.
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