Javier Assad DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) felt discomfort in his side during his minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and is on his way to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The 27-year-old injured his left oblique in spring training and opened the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list. Just when the Mexican hurler was getting close to a debut in the big leagues, he suffered a setback this week. In two rehab games with Iowa, Assad allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out nine over 7 1/3 innings. He did a respectable job in his transition to being a full-time start for the Cubbies in 2024, but Assad lacks a ton of fantasy upside because of a below-average strikeout rate. There's no timetable for his potential return to the majors, and when he is back, there's no guarantee he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad (oblique) left his rehab start early on Tuesday after grabbing at his side while warming up for the fifth inning. This certainly isn't good news for the right-hander, especially since it appears like a re-aggravation of the oblique injury that he is rehabbing. There should be more updates after he is evaluated further, but it looks like he will have to wait even longer before making his return to the major league roster.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) made his first minor-league start for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and had a decent performance, allowing an earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out four in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Assad has yet to make his 2025 debut due to an oblique strain that he suffered in spring training, but he's getting closer to being able to rejoin Chicago's starting rotation. The Cubs could certainly use the help after losing left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) for the entire season. In his transition from reliever to full-time starter in 2024, Assad held his own and went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.40 WHIP with 124 strikeouts and 63 walks in 147 innings over 29 starts. He's off to a bad start in 2025 due to his injury and he also doesn't have much strikeout upside, but he can serve as a valuable innings eater in NL-only formats.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Friday that right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) was scheduled to throw two innings in an extended spring training game in Arizona and will likely need a couple more outings there before he's cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Once Assad starts a minor-league rehab assignment, he'll only be a few outings away from potentially being cleared to return from the injured list. However, there's no guarantee that the 27-year-old will be given a starting-rotation spot once he's back. Assad was serviceable in his transition from a bullpen role to a starting role for the Cubbies in 2024, but his lack of strikeout ability caps his fantasy upside as a starter. He went 7-6 a year ago with a career-high 3.73 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 124 punchouts and 63 walks in 147 innings over 29 starts.

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.