Cubs' Javier Assad: Serves up three homers in defeat
Rotowire
Assad (7-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Assad's final start of the season turned out to be his worst, as he allowed a season-worst eight earned runs on six extra-base hits, including three home runs. Assad limped to the finish line in 2024, allowing three or more earned runs in five of his final six starts, posting an ugly 5.82 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 25:13 K:BB during that span. Although he ended on a sour note, the 27-year-old set career highs in innings pitched (147) and strikeouts (124), finishing the season with a respectable 3.73 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 124:63 K:BB in 29 starts.
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Cubs' Javier Assad: Strikes out five in no-decision
Rotowire
Assad did not factor into the decision in a win over the Nationals on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out five.
The Nationals got to Assad early, tagging the right-hander for one run in the opening frame and two more in the third after he allowed hits to three of the first five batters he faced in the inning. The 27-year-old would still manage to get through five frames for the sixth consecutive outing, though he's now winless over his last three starts. Assad has also posted five strikeouts in each of his last three starts, while Thursday's start marked the first time in his last four outings that he didn't walk multiple batters.
Cubs' Javier Assad: Escapes Coors with no-decision
Rotowire
Assad came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Rockies, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The big blow off Assad came in the second inning when Hunter Goodman launched a two-run homer, but the right-hander otherwise minimized the damage and got taken off the hook for the loss when the Cubs tied the game in the top of the eighth. Assad hadn't been tagged with more than three runs in an outing since June 23, and over his last 10 starts he sports a 3.27 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 37:24 K:BB through 52.1 innings. He'll look for a better result in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the A's.
Assad (7-5) took the loss against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Assad allowed one run in the first inning and then tossed four scoreless frames before being lifted and charged with an unearned run in the sixth. Despite the loss, the 27-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his past 10 appearances. On the season, he owns a 3.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 111:56 across 131.2 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Rockies next week.
Assad (7-4) earned the win against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.
Assad allowed nine hard-hit balls and generated just two swinging strikes on 90 pitches but performed well enough to earn his second straight quality start. The 27-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his eight outings since the All-Star break, though he has failed to complete five frames in half of them. On the season, he owns a 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 106:53 K:BB across 126 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Yankees next weekend.
Assad (6-4) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over seven innings, taking the loss versus the Marlins on Sunday.
Assad gave up solo home runs to Connor Norby and Jesus Sanchez in the first inning, and the Cubs never recovered from that. Despite the early struggles, Assad was able to grind out seven innings for the first time this year on an efficient 87 pitches (59 strikes) to earn his first quality start in five outings in August. He's pitched to a 3.15 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 102:51 K:BB through 120 innings over 24 starts this season. The right-hander's next start is projected to be on the road against the Nationals.
