Javier

Assad

Assad landed on the injured list last week with a right forearm strain, so it’s an extremely encouraging sign that he came out of Friday’s side session without any issues. The 26-year-old righty might be able to jump right back into Chicago’s starting rotation mix without requiring a minor league rehab assignment.

Assad struggled on Sunday in a loss to the Mets and also failed to record a single strikeout. Now we might know why. The Cubs haven’t issued a timeline for Assad’s injury, but forearm strains can often be a precursor to bigger injuries, so the team is liable to be careful with the right-hander. We should find out in the coming days just how long Assad will be out and who the Cubs will call up to replace him in the rotation.

Assad walked one batter on the evening and did not record a single strikeout. Most of the damage done against him came via the long ball, as Francisco Lindor crushed a two-run homer in the third inning and Brandon Nimmo followed with a solo shot. The Mets also scratched out a run while chasing Assad in the fifth. Assad got just three swings and misses on 90 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll attempt to bounce back as he carries a 3.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 79/33 K/BB ratio (83 innings) into Friday’s battle against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Assad gave up five hits, walked two and struck out seven. He won four of his first nine starts of the season, but hasn’t won any of his last six starts. Assad struck out at least seven batters for the fourth time in his last five starts. His ERA is now 2.75 on the year. The 26-year-old right-hander is set to face the Mets at home this weekend.

Tyson Miller stranded two runners after taking over for Assad in the fifth. After opening the season 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in nine starts, Assad has gone 0-2 with a 5.32 ERA in his last five turns. The truth for Assad is somewhere in between, of course, but it’s probably a little closer to the latter than the former.

Assad gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out seven. He was replaced by Luke Little in a 4-4 game in the sixth inning and the run that scored on TJ Friedl’s RBI double was charged to Assad. The five earned runs were the most allowed in any start by Assad this year. His ERA is now 2.74, but his xFIP is significantly higher at 3.98. The 26-year-old right-hander is set to face the Rays on the road next week.

Assad struck out seven and kept the ball in the yard today after allowing two homers in each of his previous two starts. He left with a one-run lead in the sixth, but that disappeared in the seventh. He’ll face the Reds again in his next start, though it will be in Cincinnati this time. While Assad is worth using most of the time in mixed leagues right now, that’s not a great play, especially since he’s due to be matched up with Hunter Greene.

The right-hander piled up eight strikeouts on the night while issuing three free passes. All of the damage done against him came on two bad pitches, that Paul Goldschmidt pulverized for a pair of two-run homers — one in the third inning and another in the fifth. Assad got seven swings and misses on 81 pitches on the night, registering a strong CSW of 35 percent. He’ll look to bounce back as he carries his impressive 2.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 54/23 K/BB ratio (58 innings) into Saturday’s matchup against the Reds.

This really should have been worse, considering that Assad gave up two homers and walked five batters. Still, his ERA remained intact at 1.70, and though he left with the Cubs down by a run, he avoided taking what would have been his first loss in 10 starts this year. He’ll make his next start in St. Louis on Sunday.

Unfazed by the Braves’ daunting lineup, Assad was in complete control in this one. Only one runner reached scoring position and he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 1.49, good for the fourth-lowest among all starting pitchers. He’s lined up for a rematch with the Braves on Monday.