Through 78 big league appearances from 2022 through 2025, Javier Assad posted a 3.43 ERA, about 17% better than league average in that time by ERA-. The stuff has never been eye-popping and the peripherals indicate the results could take a turn if the contact-management soured, but the results were the results.
Still, Assad found himself sixth or seventh on the big league rotation depth chart this spring, and when other swing men like Colin Rea and Ben Brown were finding big league bullpen jobs, Assad was being optioned back to Triple-A Iowa. It was never a reflection of his success or his ability – mostly, it was a reflection of his remaining minor league option year – but I’m sure still stung. What else can the guy do?
But we know how baseball works. Crowded is never crowded for long, and the opportunities usually come in time. For Javier Assad, that time came very quickly, as the Cubs lost both Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd within a few days. That necessitated not only that Rea slide into the rotation (he’ll start tonight), but also Assad.
Naturally, Javier Assad’s season debut looked just about like Assad’s starts usually do: he struck out only three, but he limited walks, he threw all six of his pitches in any count, kept hitters off-balance, and limited the hard contact.
Assad delivered ? pic.twitter.com/khKOlFwFiX
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 8, 2026Tell Javy good job, please. ? pic.twitter.com/Dzia2EfbS6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 8, 2026It was exactly what the Cubs needed, especially after receiving word that Horton’s elbow injury will require surgery and cost him a year+.
What will happen with Javier Assad once Matthew Boyd, whose bicep injury is much more minor, is ready to return remains to be seen. It’s possible Assad will just keep on starting, with Rea sliding back into the bullpen. It’s possible Assad will himself slide into the bullpen, where he’s pitched as a long man before. It’s possible he’d once again ride the shuttle back down to Iowa to stay stretched out. Any approach is conceivable as we sit here today, but there’s not much point in speculating until Boyd’s return is days away. Until then, things can always change again.
More on Assad’s night …
This is more fun than meangingful, but there’s never before been a starting pitcher line to match Assad’s from last night:? PITCHERGAMI ?Javier Assad just threw a line that has NEVER happened in MLB history:5.2 IP | 1 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 3 KCHC @ TBThat's the 37th Pitchergami of 2026 and 1 of 83,261+ unique lines on record.
— Pitchergami (@pitchergami) April 8, 2026 If you noticed the striking lack of spectacles, you can blame PitchCom:Thank you to @Taylor_McGregor for getting to the bottom of glasses-gate.ANSWER: Assad no longer needs the glasses to see signs because of PitchCom.
— Cubs On Tap (@CubbiesOnTap) April 7, 2026 One of these quotes is from Alex Bregman, and the other is from Pete Crow-Armstrong. I’ll let you figure out which is which (Cubs.com): “I can’t say enough about the start that we got from Javy.” And “That was [expletive] sick.” Javier Assad on having to head to Triple-A to open the season (Tribune): “Obviously, that’s not necessarily what you want, you want to be here. But those are things I can’t control, decisions I don’t make, but I was down there working. Just keep working hard, just waiting for whenever an opportunity presented itself.” On getting a standing ovation from the Cubs fans in attendance in St. Petersburg (Cubs.com): “I was not expecting that … To hear that, it’s honestly a really great feeling out there.”Hence then, the article about javier assad rides the shuttle casually dominates the rays was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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