15-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 5/1/2025
2025 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Assad transitioned from being a long-relief bullpen option to serving as a full-time starter in 2024, and the righty held his own. He made 29 starts and logged a career-high 147 innings while posting a 3.73 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Assad struck out 7.59 batters per nine innings, which was in line with his 7.74 mark from a season earlier. His fastball came down from an average velocity of 92.9 mph in 2023 to 91.5 mph last year, which was likely a result of trying to conserve more energy and last longer in games. Now that he has this season of starting experience under his belt, the 27-year-old could be primed to take another step forward in 2025. Assad is likely to set another new career high in innings if he stays healthy, and he will also look to finish the season stronger, as he posted a 5.82 ERA across his final six starts of 2024. That's not too surprising for a pitcher getting used to the rigors of being a full-time MLB starter. Assad's lack of big strikeout numbers caps his upside, but he should be a useful fantasy option this season with some room for growth. Read Past Outlooks
Heads back to Chicago after setback
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday that Assad had a setback with his left oblique during Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.
Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.
Pitching Stats
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2025
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-10%
BAA vs LHP
2025
No Stats
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .232 | 119 | 55 | 113 | 14 | |||
| Since 2023vs Right | .258 | 99 | 49 | 123 | 19 | |||
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .242 | 75 | 35 | 73 | 8 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .269 | 49 | 28 | 70 | 12 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .215 | 44 | 20 | 40 | 6 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .245 | 50 | 21 | 53 | 7 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-29%
ERA at Home
2025
No Stats
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | 2.85 | 1.35 | 129.1 | 7.9 | 4.1 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | 4.04 | 1.31 | 127.0 | 7.4 | 3.2 | ||||
| 2025Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2025Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024Home | 2.47 | 1.37 | 69.1 | 7.5 | 4.5 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.87 | 1.43 | 77.2 | 7.6 | 3.2 | ||||
| 2023Home | 3.30 | 1.32 | 60.0 | 8.4 | 3.6 | ||||
| 2023Away | 2.74 | 1.11 | 49.1 | 6.9 | 3.1 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
After a promising stint with Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic over the offseason, Assad settled in as a valuable swing man for the Cubs in 2023, though his role limited his fantasy value. He appeared in 32 games for Chicago, making 10 starts, and he posted a solid 3.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 94 strikeouts across 109.1 innings. Assad was useful in gobbling up innings out of the bullpen, but fantasy managers would rather see him start regularly than serve as a long reliever. That could happen in 2024, as veteran Marcus Stroman is a free agent and fellow veteran Drew Smyly struggled last year and may be ticketed for the bullpen at this point in his career. Hayden Wesneski is also still in the fold, though he didn't do a ton to stand out in 2023. The key question in spring training will be where the Cubs think Assad can make the biggest impact. If the righty is back in his swing role, fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere. However, if Assad breaks camp in the rotation, he could be ready for a breakout campaign.
More Fantasy News
Exits rehab start early
Assad (oblique) left before the start of the fifth inning in Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jason Kempf of the Iowa Cubs' broadcast team reports.
ANALYSIS
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Reaches fourth inning in rehab start
Assad (oblique) struck out four and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk over 3.1 innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Iowa.
ANALYSIS
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Beginning assignment Tuesday
Assad (oblique) will make his first rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Making extended spring appearance
Assad (oblique) will throw two innings in an extended spring training game Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Opens season on IL
The Cubs placed Assad (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Rotation spot likely secured
According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Assad is expected to enter 2025 with a secure spot at the back end of the Cubs' rotation.
ANALYSIS
The 27-year-old has struggled in his past four starts with a 16 earned runs allowed and 18:10 K:BB across 21 innings, but he's been effective overall this year with a 3.73 ERA through 29 starts. The Cubs are expected to bolster their rotation this winter, but Assad should still enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 job even if a front-line starter is added.
The 27-year-old has struggled in his past four starts with a 16 earned runs allowed and 18:10 K:BB across 21 innings, but he's been effective overall this year with a 3.73 ERA through 29 starts. The Cubs are expected to bolster their rotation this winter, but Assad should still enter spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 job even if a front-line starter is added.