Cubs Should Do The Right Thing When Rosters Expand

The Chicago Cubs have used Javier Assad’s remaining options to their advantage this season. 

The Cubs have optioned Assad to Triple-A three different times over the last few months. He was first recalled from the minors on April 6 before being optioned down on May 17. The right-hander was called up again on June 6 and optioned to Iowa on August 16. With the team needing pitching help, he was recalled again just one day later on August 17 before being optioned to Triple-A on August 21. 

Assad has gone back and forth between the Major League club and the Triple-A club this season. The crazy thing is that the right-hander has done enough to warrant a roster spot on this Cubs team. 

Every time that Assad has been optioned to Triple-A hasn’t been because of his performance. He has really been one of the Cubs’ most consistent pitchers in both the rotation and bullpen throughout the 2026 campaign. 

Assad has a 3.46 ERA across 83 ⅓ innings pitched this season. He has a 4-1 record with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.154 WHIP across 10 starts, and a 2-0 record with a 3.73 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, and two saves across 12 appearances out of the bullpen. 

These numbers simply don’t belong in the minors. Assad has been consistent in every role that the Cubs have given him this season. He's been a true team player and deserves a spot on the Major League roster at this point in the year. 

There aren’t many pitchers on this Cubs team who have been as dependable as Assad all year long. That consistency has also continued for the Mexican native down in the minors with the Iowa Cubs. 

Assad drew the start for Iowa on Sunday against Triple-A Omaha. The 29-year-old right-hander then proceeded to throw 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. That type of production is what he has given the Cubs all season. 

With the rosters expanding on Tuesday, Assad should be the pitcher that the Cubs bring up. He can provide some length out of the bullpen and deserves the opportunity to help this team down the stretch. 

While his underlying metrics are definitely a bit worrisome, it’s hard to ignore how reliable he has been in his big league career. Assad has a career 3.47 ERA across 64 starts, and a career 3.29 ERA across 36 appearances out of the bullpen. 

Assad just simply gets outs.