DENVER — For two seasons, Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad has proved he is a valuable big-league pitcher.
And few in that span have been better than Assad, who entered Friday with 241 innings over 58 games (36 starts). Only six MLB pitchers with at least 200 innings the last two years have posted a lower ERA than his 3.10, a group that features teammate Justin Steele (3.08), the San Diego Padres’ Michael King (2.94), New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (2.82), Baltimore Orioles’ Kyle Bradish (2.81), San Francisco Giants’ Blake Snell (2.68) and Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (2.59).
“Javy’s always fought, maybe even within this organization he probably he was underrated, and now maybe it’s outside the organization, so he’s always going to have that fight on his hands,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I think he’s fine with that. I don’t think it’s going to change what he’s does now.
“What I see is now we’re looking at two years of 100-plus innings in each season of pretty darn good performance, and it’s really pretty hard to argue with what the performance has been and hard not to give him a lot of credit for his performance the last couple years.”
Assad’s start in Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies was his 27th of the season, tying him with Shota Imanaga for most by a Cub. Assad’s 3.14 ERA and 128 ERA+ ranked third behind Imanaga and Steele.
“He does it in a way that’s a little different, but that’s his journey and that’s his story, that’s who he is,” Counsell said. “And so when you see it kind of on a every start basis, you come to respect it and understand it, and it’s fun to watch. He gets hitters out and he keeps runs off the board, and that’s his job.”
Assad allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings Friday in the Cubs’ 9-5 loss, only the fourth time this season he has given up more than three earned runs in a game. The outing marked the first time Assad surrendered four runs since June 23 versus the New York Mets.
A two-run home run by Hunter Goodman in the second inning put the Cubs (75-72) in a 3-2 hole. Counsell felt it Assad put the pitch in a good spot and overall thought the right-hander performed well to keep them in the game.
Goodman added a run-scoring single in the fourth and a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth off reliever Nate Pearson to finish with a career-high seven RBIs. Cubs first baseman Michael Bush had evened the score at 5 with a three-run blast in the top of the eighth.
With at most three starts left in the regular season, Assad is most pleased with getting to start the whole season — an opportunity that arose because of Jameson Taillon’s injury during spring training — after being in a hybrid role last year.
“Just try to give it my best out there,” Assad said through an interpreter. “But I’m really happy with the job.”
Assad seems to be at his best when he gets into a jam with runners in scoring position. Since the start of last season, Assad’s .128 average and .193 slugging against plus a .192 wOBA is the lowest among the 56 qualified pitchers in such situations. He has a knack for finding a strike out when he needs it in those moments, too, posting a 23.5 K% with RISP; comparatively, Assad has a 19.5 K% when nobody is on base.
“I think that’s the one thing you’re going to question because there hasn’t been many pitchers that have proven that’s a skill,” Counsell said. “I think Javy has seemingly proved it is a skill for him because he’s done that very repeatedly this year. It feels like his best pitches have been made at the biggest moments.
“He’s not a big strikeout pitcher and then come to strikeouts so it’s certainly a great trait. I think it comes from his competitiveness and his ability to control his emotions in the situation. He does a really good job of that.”
Aside from whatever moves the Cubs make in the offseason to improve their starting pitching options, Assad’s performance the last two years warrants consideration of the 27-year-old being part of the rotation. Counsell isn’t ready to outright declare that but acknowledged Assad has done a lot to strongly consider him.
“I don’t like making promises that are eight months away because a lot can change, but that’s why I say we’ve got two years of Javy Assad doing this and that’s what I’ve mostly taken note of,” Counsell said. “He’s done this for two years, and it’s hard to do that for pitchers that are stepping into this league.”
Injury ends Brennen Davis’ season
Brennen Davis can’t catch a break.
The prospect’s promise has been tested regularly by injuries, the latest ending his season. The Cubs recalled Davis and placed him on the 60-day injured list with a fractured left ankle. The move opens a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Jimmy Herget, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.
Davis, 24, has dealt with back issues the last three years, including a fracture that landed him on the IL in early July. He also had core muscle surgery in 2023 that cost him time.
“It’s tough because he’s had a number of just unfortunate accidents, almost, and when they add up, it just mentally, I think it gets hard for the player as much as anything,” Counsell said. “I can also tell you, he’s not the first, as a player, you’ve got to just persevere through it, and he will, and you just keep working and get yourself back. And that’s how sometimes, as a professional, you have to do it. You have to deal with some roadblocks that get put in front of you that are not of your control always. You keep fighting, and I’m sure Brennen will.”
Injury updates
Right-hander Julian Merryweather (right knee tendinitis) was scheduled to make his first rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Friday. Counsell isn’t ruling out a return for Merryweather, who was eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday.
“When you’re in these situations where we feel like we’ve got chances here that we can make this a really good two weeks, and Julian’s trying to get back to be part of that,” Counsell said. “So from that perspective, do we have a healthy pitcher? And if we’ve got 100% a healthy pitcher, let’s go and that’s Julian’s mindset right now. That’s how we’re making the decision.”
Steele (elbow tendinitis) is slated to throw another bullpen Saturday at Coors Field. The left-hander can come off the IL as soon as Tuesday, and the Cubs remain optimistic he will be back this season.
