Javier Assad is set to make his return to the Chicago Cubs from AAA Iowa. On top of that, he's not even been activated yet, but manager Craig Counsell has confirmed that Assad will make the start against the Marlins on Saturday.
It's rightfully so.
Javier Assad should have never been sent down to the minors, not after the performance he's displayed for the Cubs all season. The Cubs have been one of the most injured pitching staffs in baseball, and it's clearly been the Achilles heel for them in 2026.
The Cubs have used Assad as a work horse from day one this season, and he's answered the call gracefully every time. Whether it was in a pinch and the Cubs needed long relief, or the team needed a reliable start in a stretch of bad pitching, Assad has been the guy. Paired with guys who stepped up as well, such as Colin Rea and Ben Brown, the team has only had a few pitchers that have stood for the duration of the season without faltering.
Across 83.1 innings pitched for the Cubs this season, Assad has posted an impressive 6-1 decision record, and a 3.46 ERA. Assad is always good to collect a few strikeouts when he takes the mound. He's only had two games this season where he didn't record at least one.
The data is clear. When you look at Assad's game log, it's filled to the brim with wins. The Cubs have been in desperate need of reliable pitching all season long, and that's why it was so confusing to see them send Assad down in favor of far less reliable pitching, like Edward Cabrera.
Javier Assad’s latest Cubs return cannot be another temporary stay
With the season coming to a close, this start on Saturday cannot be another temporary assignment. Counsell was hesitant to commit to a five or six man rotation for the remainder of the season. Yet it could be concluded that the Cubs are going to do what they need to keep Assad on the roster.
Assad hasn't made his return to the show until now because of the 15-day window that optioned players must remain where they've been stationed. Now that that's over, Assad can return to the show where he belongs, where he can produce meaningful innings for the Cubs.
Counsell will have some difficult decisions to make when it comes to the playoff roster. Whether the Cubs will have several starting arms coming out of the pen remains to be seen, but we're coming rather close. The Cubs only have twenty games left to get their roster in order.
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