Javier Assad Fantasy Stats

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Javier Assad will "likely move into the bullpen" with right-hander Jameson Taillon (groin) scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make the start against the Atlanta Braves in the series finale on Thursday, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Assad has had an injury-plagued 2025 season and has only made five starts (25 1/3 innings) at the big-league level for the Cubs. The former full-time reliever has been inconsistent, too, as he's sporting a career-worst 4.62 ERA (4.88 FIP) with a 1.26 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB in his fourth season in the majors. Assad will now return to the bullpen, where he's been much more effective in his career. He had a 3.05 ERA in 109 1/3 innings back in 2023, although he's never been much of a strikeout artist. Assad will lose what little fantasy appeal he had with the move to the 'pen.

The Chicago Cubs have recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa to start Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, according to Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. He'll take over for righty Jameson Taillon (groin), who's going on the 15-day injured list with tightness in his left groin. After missing the first four-plus months of the season with an oblique strain, Assad made his 2025 debut on Aug. 12 and has spent the past couple of weeks ping-ponging between the majors and the minors. He has made three starts for Chicago and pitched to a 3.86 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP, nine strikeouts, and three walks in 14 innings. He'll return to face Colorado, which has scored the majors' second-fewest runs, though he'll have to toe the rubber at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The Chicago Cubs recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, and he will make the start in the series opener in Anaheim against the hosting Los Angeles Angels, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. In a corresponding move, the Cubs put right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier (groin) on the 15-day injured list with a strained left groin. Depending on how Assad fares in his outing on Friday night, the 28-year-old could stick around in Chicago's starting rotation with right-hander Michael Sorka (shoulder) on the IL. This will be only Assad's third start of the year for the Cubs due to injuries in 2025. He allowed five earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking two and fanning five in eight innings in his two starts versus Toronto and Pittsburgh. The former reliever has limited strikeout upside and won't be a very popular fantasy streamer on Friday evening.

The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-hander Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa and recalled lefty Luke Little, according to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network. Assad missed the first four-plus months of the season with an oblique strain and finally returned Aug. 12 to make two starts. The 28-year-old combined for eight frames in those outings and went 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA, 13 hits allowed, and five strikeouts against two walks. After Assad threw four innings of one-run ball in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, the Cubs are sending him down as Jameson Taillon (calf) prepares to come off the 15-day injured list and rejoin the rotation.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad bounced back nicely during his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The right-hander was hit around for four runs on eight hits during his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. Assad looked much better on the mound this time around. He tossed four innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out three batters. Assad was limited to 65 pitches as the Cubs want to give him a chance to build up his stamina. It's unclear if Assad will remain in the starting rotation once Jameson Taillon (calf) returns. Fantasy managers might want to wait and see what happens before adding Assad.

The Chicago Cubs reinstated right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, according to the team. Assad is expected to start on Tuesday night on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays instead of right-hander Ben Brown, who was originally listed as Tuesday's starter. In a corresponding move, the team optioned right-hander Nate Pearson to Triple-A Iowa. The 28-year-old Assad will be making his 2025 debut at Rogers Centre against the first-place Blue Jays, so we'd recommend avoiding him in his first start back in a bad matchup. Assad pitched well in the minors during his rehab assignment and could be an option for fantasy managers in a pinch in deeper leagues. The Mexican hurler had his first full season as a starter last year and held his own with a 3.73 ERA, but it also came with a 1.40 WHIP and weak 7.6 K/9 in 29 starts.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad (oblique) threw 53 pitches in Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday night, going 3 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Assad posted three scoreless innings on July 24 in a rehab outing in the Arizona Complex League, threw a bullpen session on July 27, and then made Wednesday's start. The 28-year-old righty went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA and 4.64 FIP in 29 starts for the Cubs last year but has yet to make his 2025 season debut due to an oblique strain suffered in mid-February and re-aggravated in a rehab outing in mid-April. At this point, Assad will likely need another start or two in Triple-A, but he could be ready to join the Cubs by the middle of August. Chicago's rotation will have a new look after the team added Michael Soroka from the Nationals and could potentially add another arm at the trade deadline. Getting Assad back in the mix as well will give more depth and options down the stretch, as the team battles the Brewers for the NL Central.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) had a nice showing in his first minor-league rehab start on Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, tossing three shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. It wasn't a bad showing at all, even if it wasn't against great competition, for Assad's first outing since April. The 27-year-old has been out all season, so he has a ways to go in his rehab assignment and won't be an option for the big-league club until at least mid-August, if not later. It's unclear if Assad will have a rotation spot waiting for him when he comes off the injured list, but he could have an opportunity based on the fact that lefty Justin Steele (elbow) is out for the year and Jameson Taillon (calf) is also on the IL. Still, Assad offers limited fantasy upside with a career 7.6 K/9 in 294 innings.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday, according to manager Craig Counsell. Assad suffered a Grade 2 left-oblique strain in his April 22 outing with Triple-A Iowa and has not pitched for the Cubs at all so far in 2025. The 27-year-old initially went on the 15-day injured list back on March 18 but was moved to the 60-day IL on April 30 after aggravating his oblique. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Assad could be cleared to make his season debut for the Cubs at some point in August. However, since Assad could very well be relegated to a long-relief role out of the bullpen, he won't be a big fantasy asset upon his return. He made a career-high 29 starts for Chicago in 2024 and had a 3.73 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 124:63 K:BB in 147 innings.

According to the team, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad (oblique) has continued to remain in the bullpen sessions phase of his throwing program as he steadily works toward live batting practice the next step in his rehabilitation. The 27-year-old is still battling back from a nagging oblique injury that's plagued him since spring training. Assad appeared to be nearing a return in April, but a setback has robbed him of even more time. Currently, Chicago believes he'll still be able to contribute in 2025 and has tentatively scheduled him for a return in mid-August. Depending on how the remainder of his rehab goes, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubs be stingy with his workload when he rejoins the major league roster.