15-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 4/11/2025
2025 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Assad transitioned from being a long-relief bullpen option to serving as a full-time starter in 2024, and the righty held his own. He made 29 starts and logged a career-high 147 innings while posting a 3.73 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Assad struck out 7.59 batters per nine innings, which was in line with his 7.74 mark from a season earlier. His fastball came down from an average velocity of 92.9 mph in 2023 to 91.5 mph last year, which was likely a result of trying to conserve more energy and last longer in games. Now that he has this season of starting experience under his belt, the 27-year-old could be primed to take another step forward in 2025. Assad is likely to set another new career high in innings if he stays healthy, and he will also look to finish the season stronger, as he posted a 5.82 ERA across his final six starts of 2024. That's not too surprising for a pitcher getting used to the rigors of being a full-time MLB starter. Assad's lack of big strikeout numbers caps his upside, but he should be a useful fantasy option this season with some room for growth. Read Past Outlooks
Opens season on IL
The Cubs placed Assad (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Assad won't be included on the Cubs' season-opening 28-man roster after he sustained a mild left oblique strain suffered early on in camp, taking him out of the mix for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. The right-hander has been throwing in camp, so he could be ready to make his 2025 debut in early April.
Assad won't be included on the Cubs' season-opening 28-man roster after he sustained a mild left oblique strain suffered early on in camp, taking him out of the mix for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. The right-hander has been throwing in camp, so he could be ready to make his 2025 debut in early April.
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2025
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-10%
BAA vs LHP
2025
No Stats
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .232 | 119 | 55 | 113 | 14 | |||
| Since 2023vs Right | .258 | 99 | 49 | 123 | 19 | |||
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .242 | 75 | 35 | 73 | 8 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .269 | 49 | 28 | 70 | 12 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .215 | 44 | 20 | 40 | 6 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .245 | 50 | 21 | 53 | 7 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-29%
ERA at Home
2025
No Stats
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | 2.85 | 1.35 | 129.1 | 7.9 | 4.1 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | 4.04 | 1.31 | 127.0 | 7.4 | 3.2 | ||||
| 2025Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2025Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024Home | 2.47 | 1.37 | 69.1 | 7.5 | 4.5 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.87 | 1.43 | 77.2 | 7.6 | 3.2 | ||||
| 2023Home | 3.30 | 1.32 | 60.0 | 8.4 | 3.6 | ||||
| 2023Away | 2.74 | 1.11 | 49.1 | 6.9 | 3.1 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Javier Assad See More
Much has been decided in the National League over the last few days, including the Giants' fifth starter job, which was won by Landen Roupp.
The RotoWire staff shares their favorite sleeper pitchers, including young Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong.
Jan Levine kicks off the column for 2025 and examines all the NL positional battles.
Todd Zola tries to remove volume from the equation when determining the value of pitchers, and finds that the market may have over-corrected on Logan Webb.
The National League Central features several closer spots up for grabs and multiple rookies hoping to break camp with starting spots, including the Cubs' Matt Shaw.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
After a promising stint with Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic over the offseason, Assad settled in as a valuable swing man for the Cubs in 2023, though his role limited his fantasy value. He appeared in 32 games for Chicago, making 10 starts, and he posted a solid 3.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 94 strikeouts across 109.1 innings. Assad was useful in gobbling up innings out of the bullpen, but fantasy managers would rather see him start regularly than serve as a long reliever. That could happen in 2024, as veteran Marcus Stroman is a free agent and fellow veteran Drew Smyly struggled last year and may be ticketed for the bullpen at this point in his career. Hayden Wesneski is also still in the fold, though he didn't do a ton to stand out in 2023. The key question in spring training will be where the Cubs think Assad can make the biggest impact. If the righty is back in his swing role, fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere. However, if Assad breaks camp in the rotation, he could be ready for a breakout campaign.
More Fantasy News
Won't return by Opening Day
Assad (oblique) will begin the season on the injured list, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Stint on injured list possible
Assad (oblique) could throw off a mound this week, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season is possible, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Cleared to play catch
Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Assad (oblique) has resumed playing catch, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Managing mild oblique strain
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Assad was diagnosed with a mild oblique strain and will be shut down from throwing for a few days, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Dealing with oblique injury
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Assad is dealing with oblique soreness and will undergo imaging Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Rotation spot likely secured
According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Assad is expected to enter 2025 with a secure spot at the back end of the Cubs' rotation.
ANALYSIS
The 27-year-old has struggled in his past four starts with a 16 earned runs allowed and 18:10 K:BB across 21 innings, but he's been effective overall this year with a 3.73 ERA through 29 starts. The Cubs are expected to bolster their rotation this winter, but Assad should still enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 job even if a front-line starter is added.
The 27-year-old has struggled in his past four starts with a 16 earned runs allowed and 18:10 K:BB across 21 innings, but he's been effective overall this year with a 3.73 ERA through 29 starts. The Cubs are expected to bolster their rotation this winter, but Assad should still enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 job even if a front-line starter is added.