Javier Assad's consistent performance faces stiff competition. Can his proven reliability secure him a coveted bullpen spot for Opening Day?
Chicago Cubs pitcher Javier Assad has been extremely consistent on the mound since entering the league in 2022.
In his first four years in the big leagues, Assad has a 3.43 ERA and 271 strikeouts across 78 appearances (54 starts) for the Cubs. He has finished with a sub-3.75 ERA in all four of those seasons and always seems to get the job done.
Last season, Assad put together another solid campaign. Despite missing the entire first half due to an oblique strain, the right-hander made his season debut in mid-August. He then posted a 3.65 ERA across eight appearances (seven starts) in 2025.
The problem surrounding Assad entering the 2026 season, though, is that he is not guaranteed to make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster.
The North Siders already have their rotation set for the season. Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga will begin the year as the team’s five-man rotation.
That leaves Assad as just a rotation depth piece at this point. If an injury arises, then the 28-year-old could step into this rotation. For now, he is on the outside looking in on Chicago’s rotation.
With Assad not making the team as a starter, his only chance to make the Opening Day roster is by earning a bullpen spot. However, he is one of many pitchers who are competing for that final bullpen spot this spring.
The Cubs have seven pitchers practically locked in their bullpen to start the season. Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, Daniel Palencia, and Colin Rea will all make the roster as bullpen arms.
Assuming the team goes with an eight-man bullpen, that leaves one spot up for grabs.
Assad is definitely one of the pitchers currently battling it out for that final bullpen spot, along with pitchers like Ben Brown, Gavin Hollowell, Ryan Rolison, and Corbin Martin.
Although Assad has been the most consistent out of all those pitchers in the Majors, the right-hander might not be the favorite to earn that final roster spot.
The Cubs already have a pitcher who can give them length out of the bullpen in Rea. It would be quite surprising for the team to carry a second pitcher who is more of a starter than a traditional bullpen arm.
That means there’s a strong chance that Assad starts the season down in Triple-A. There is really no spot for him on this year’s Opening Day roster unless the Cubs want to carry two non-traditional relievers in their bullpen.