Assad (5-3) earned the win in Saturday's 6-3 victory over Colorado, allowing two hits and a hit batsman over four scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He struck out six without issuing any walks.
It didn't take long for the 26-year-old to be used in his new role, tossing four scoreless frames in relief after Marcus Stroman lasted just three innings in his return to the rotation. Assad scattered two hits -- a bunt single and a double -- while throwing 36 of 49 pitches for strikes and earned his fifth win thanks to Chicago's late rally. If the righty is deployed in a similar fashion in his next appearance, it could come Thursday in Atlanta with Stroman again set to take the mound.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Relegated to bullpen
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Cubs manager David Ross said Saturday that Assad will pitch out of the bullpen going forward, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
With Marcus Stroman returning to the rotation and starting Saturday, Assad will officially end up as the odd man out. The 26-year-old righty has given up eight runs over 13.2 innings across his last three starts and will serve as a multi-inning reliever during the Cubs' final push for a playoff berth.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Cruises to fourth win
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Assad (4-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 14-1 rout of the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.
A Ke'Bryan Hayes solo shot in the third inning was the only blemish on Assad's line as the 26-year-old righty set a new career high for strikeouts in a game. Since getting fully stretched out and locking down a spot in the Cubs rotation in mid-August, Assad sports a 2.68 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 47 innings. He'll likely next take the mound this weekend at home against the Rockies.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Championship pickups
Rotowire
Assad isn't the most skilled pitcher and already appears to be coming back to earth after an impressive August, but you won't find anyone with better matchups than his the rest of the way. I wouldn't call him automatic against the Pirates and Rockies next week, but he's a potentially dangerous pickup that's better off with you than your opponent.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Roughed up at Coors Field
Rotowire
Assad did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over 3.1 innings against the Rockies. He struck out four.
After lasting at least five innings in six consecutive starts, Assad fell short of the mark Tuesday. Despite allowing just five hits, he set a season high in runs and walks allowed. Assad is set up for a potential bounce-back opportunity next time out, however, as he's lined up to take on the Pirates at Wrigley early next week.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Impresses again in win
Rotowire
Assad improved to 3-2 in Sunday's 10-1 win over the Pirates, striking out seven while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks over seven innings.
After allowing a run in the first inning, Assad rebounded to blank the Pirates over his next six frames while setting a season high with seven strikeouts. Assad's yet to allow more than two earned runs in five starts since rejoining the Cubs rotation, working to a 2.48 ERA in that span. Overall, the 26-year-old right-hander has a 2.96 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and 60:32 K:BB across 79 innings this season. Assad will look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently lined up for next week in Cincinnati.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Allows two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Assad did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Tigers. He struck out four.
Assad has been pitching well since filling in for Marcus Stroman (ribs) in Chicago's rotation, working to a 2.45 ERA in his last three starts (18.1 innings). Overall, the 26-year-old Assad is 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 53:30 K:BB across 72 innings this season. He's currently lined up to make his next start on the road against the Pirates.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Tosses quality start Wednesday
Rotowire
Assad allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Wednesday.
Marcus Stroman (hip/ribs) was originally expected to start Wednesday, but he had a setback that's keeping him on the injured list. Instead, Assad got another opportunity in the rotation and notched his second straight quality start. The right-hander opened with three scoreless frames before the White Sox tagged him for a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, but Assad bounced back with a scoreless sixth before he was relieved. He's pitched well enough to remain a starter even after Stroman returns, though that scenario may depend on whether the Cubs elect to keep Drew Smyly in the bullpen or place him back in the rotation.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Picking up another start
Rotowire
Assad is scheduled to start Friday's game in Toronto, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
After making what was expected to be a spot start in place of the injured Marcus Stroman (hip) last weekend versus Atlanta, Assad will end up sticking around in the rotation for at least one more turn as a replacement for Drew Smyly, who has been moved to the bullpen. Assad has worked exactly 3.2 frames in both of his last two outings, so the right-hander should be stretched out enough to reach five innings Friday and qualify for the win. The Cubs have a pair of off days next week, so Assad would seem likely to have his next turn in the rotation skipped following Friday's start.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Sharp again Monday
Rotowire
Assad tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in Monday's loss to the Reds. He allowed one hit and three walks, while striking out four.
Assad continued his strong recent play, as he's now recorded five straight scoreless outings, a span of 11.1 innings. That's allowed the righty to lower his season ERA to 3.24. The Cubs don't need Assad in the rotation at the moment, so he should remain a valuable long-relief option, which doesn't do him any favors in fantasy leagues.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Tosses three scoreless innings
Rotowire
Assad tossed three scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Guardians. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out five.
Assad looked sharp in the long-relief appearance and recorded a season high in strikeouts. The 25-year-old has pitched well lately, allowing one run over eight innings in his last three appearances. However, he's not pitching that frequently, as he's taken the mound just five times since the start of June. Assad has some talent, but his current role isn't particularly fantasy friendly.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Called up from Triple-A
Rotowire
Chicago recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Assad was optioned to Triple-A earlier this month after registering a 5.09 ERA over 17.2 innings with the Cubs in one start and four relief appearances. He'll rejoin the big club as a replacement in the bullpen for Nick Burdi, who was placed on the 15-day injured list after undergoing an appendectomy earlier Wednesday.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Assad was recalled Wednesday from Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Assad will presumably work out of the bullpen, though it's worth noting that the Cubs have yet to announce a starter for Thursday's series finale against the Nationals. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed eight earned runs over 7.1 innings (one start, two relief appearances) this season at the MLB level.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Doesn't last long in spot start
Rotowire
Assad allowed two runs on three hits across three innings and did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Dodgers. He walked two and struck out three.
Assad wasn't particularly efficient or effective, needing 62 pitches to retire nine batters while serving up two long balls. The righty was filling in for Jameson Taillon (groin), who was placed on the injured list and could return in early May after missing at least one more start. Assad isn't guaranteed to stick in the rotation but remains a candidate to serve as a fill-in starter.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Back in majors
Rotowire
Assad was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and will start against the Dodgers on Thursday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
After being optioned down to Triple-A on April 10, Assad will return to the major-league roster less than two weeks later, as Jameson Taillon (groin) lands on the 15-day injured list. Assad has struggled in both the majors and minors this season, so he shouldn't be viewed as a reliable fantasy option.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.
Assad was needed for three innings in relief Sunday, so he wasn't going to be available for a few days. He will get stretched back out as a starter with Iowa.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Won't be in rotation
Rotowire
Assad is expected to serve in a long-relief role for the Cubs to begin the season after Hayden Wesneski was named the team's No. 5 starter, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wesneski seemed like the favorite to win the job throughout camp, so Assad shifting to the minors or the MLB bullen has been on the radar. If he sticks with the Cubs, Assad could be a multi-inning relief weapon, a role he excelled in with Team Mexico during the World Baseball Classic. The 25-year-old still has some upside and could be a starting option later in the year.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Likely ticketed for bullpen
Rotowire
With Hayden Wesneski likely closing in on the fifth spot in the rotation, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Assad will probably begin the season in the bullpen.
Assad has looked sharp this spring in limited work, but Wesneski has also turned heads, and the latter seems to have the inside track on a rotation spot. That will likely push Assad into a long-relief role, though he certainly could start at some point this year. The righty made his MLB debut last season and held his own across nine appearances (eight starts), registering a 3.11 ERA.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Finishes 2022 strong
Rotowire
Assad tossed 5.1 scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four.
Assad left with the Cubs up 1-0, but Chicago's bullpen allowed three runs in the 3-2 loss. Despite not getting the win, Assad looked sharp in his 2022 finale. The rookie ended his campaign with 10.1 scoreless innings over his last two starts, which brought his ERA down to a strong 3.11 across 37.2 total innings. Assad should factor into the team's rotation mix to begin 2023, and he'll be a fantasy factor if he keeps pitching like this.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Earns first MLB win
Rotowire
Assad (1-1) allowed just one run on five hits across six innings to earn the win Monday against the Mets. He walked three and struck out six.
Assad once again pitched well, and the Cubs scored five runs in the first four innings, propelling the rookie to his first MLB win in his fourth career start. The righty struggled with walks again, and he now has 10 free passes across 21.1 innings this year, but he's otherwise been solid with a 2.53 ERA. Assad will look to keep rolling in his next scheduled start, which is currently penciled in for next Monday against the Marlins.
