Javier Assad DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Chicago Cubs officially placed right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Monday before their season-opening, two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. In additional moves, the Cubs optioned right-hander Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa and designated right-hander Keegan Thompson for assignment. Assad suffered a mild left-oblique strain early in spring training and didn't have enough time to get ready for the Tokyo Series, but he could be ready in early April if he can avoid any setbacks as he gets ramped back up. However, by that time, the Cubs could just use him as a long reliever out of the bullpen. The 27-year-old went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 147 innings over 29 starts in 2024 in his first full year as a starter. Assad could take another step forward in 2025, but his lack of strikeout upside doesn't make him very attractive in mixed fantasy leagues.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad (oblique) will not be ready by Opening Day. Assad was diagnosed with a mild oblique strain in February. He has begun playing catch and is targeting a return to the mound sometime next week. However, it appears the 27-year-old will be unable to ramp up for Opening Day. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Colin Rea to be one of the favorites to earn a spot in the rotation. Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown could also see starting opportunities if they perform well during spring training. Last season Assad logged 147 innings across 29 starts and held a 3.73 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. He tallied just 124 punchouts and generated a high 4.97 xERA. Earlier in the offseason, the Cubs signed Rea to a one-year deal and should be viewed as the top candidate to replace Assad as he started 27 games last summer for Milwaukee. Rea could be a viable target in NL-only formats if he is given starts at the beginning of the season.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (oblique), who was the presumed fifth starter for much of the winter, has been sidelined in camp with a left-oblique strain and could need to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list, according to The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma. Assad could start throwing off the mound this week, but there might not be any reason to push him to make the Opening Day roster if the Cubs like what they see from right-handers Ben Brown and Colin Rea and lefty Jordan Wicks. Assad, 27, was successful in his transition from a reliever to a starter last year, going 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.40 WHIP with a career-high 124 strikeouts and 63 walks in 147 innings over 29 starts. However, the spike in innings in a starting role could still be taking its toll, and his lack of swing-and-miss stuff gives him a low fantasy floor in fantasy leagues.