It appeared the Cubs were on the verge of getting a key depth arm back, but right-hander Javier Assad had to cut short his second rehab start on Tuesday night due to a possible injury.
Assad, who was recovering from an oblique strain, seemed to have re-aggravated the issue during his outing for Triple-A Iowa.
After missing all of spring training with the injury he sustained in February, Assad had been progressing well. He pitched 3.1 solid innings in his first rehab appearance last week. However, during Tuesday’s game in Louisville, he exited earlier than planned—reportedly feeling discomfort while warming up for the fifth inning.
In that outing, Assad threw 67 pitches, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out five. An official update from the Cubs is expected soon, but it’s unlikely Assad will be ready to return to the big league roster anytime soon.
The Cubs are currently dealing with a string of pitching injuries, including absences from Justin Steele, Tyson Miller, Ryan Brasier, and Eli Morgan. Assad’s setback puts even more pressure on the team’s depth.
Veteran righty Colin Rea has stepped in capably, filling the gap with two solid spot starts. Rea has thrown 8.1 innings in those appearances, allowing just two earned runs—one each to the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. In his latest start, he went 4.2 innings without issuing a walk and gave up only one run, striking out five against Arizona.
With Steele set for season-ending elbow surgery on Friday, the Cubs are going to have to continue leaning heavily on their organizational pitching depth. Assad’s return was part of that plan.
In his initial rehab outing, he pitched 3.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits and a walk, with four strikeouts. That was his first game action since missing spring training.
Looking back, Assad was a reliable part of the rotation in 2024. He made 29 starts and threw 147 innings, posting a 3.74 ERA. During the first half of the season, he was particularly strong, with a 2.75 ERA through mid-June.
He struggled later on and missed time due to a forearm issue, but overall proved to be a steady presence.
While Assad doesn’t overpower hitters, his ability to limit hard contact and eat innings has made him a valuable piece. He’s also been effective out of the bullpen, sporting a 3.18 ERA over 23 multi-inning relief appearances in his career.
