60-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 8/18/2025
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
Signed a one-year contract with the Cubs in March of 2025.
Twirls 3.2 innings at Triple-A
Assad (oblique) struck out two and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk across 3.2 innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa.
Analysis
After tossing three scoreless frames in his first rehab outing July 24 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Assad jumped up a few levels for his second outing. The right-hander got stretched out to 53 pitches (32 strikes) in the start and is expected to build upon that workload when he makes his next rehab appearance with Iowa on Wednesday, per MLB.com reports. Though Assad still appears more likely than not to work in long relief or stick around in Iowa's rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, he could be needed to make starts with the big club if he ends up beating Jameson Taillon (calf) and Michael Soroka (shoulder) back from the IL.
After tossing three scoreless frames in his first rehab outing July 24 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Assad jumped up a few levels for his second outing. The right-hander got stretched out to 53 pitches (32 strikes) in the start and is expected to build upon that workload when he makes his next rehab appearance with Iowa on Wednesday, per MLB.com reports. Though Assad still appears more likely than not to work in long relief or stick around in Iowa's rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, he could be needed to make starts with the big club if he ends up beating Jameson Taillon (calf) and Michael Soroka (shoulder) back from the IL.
Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
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2024
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2022
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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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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
Looks sharp in rehab game
Assad (oblique) struck out six and allowed one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Analysis
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Resuming rehab assignment
Assad (oblique) will resume a rehab assignment with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Cubs on Thursday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis
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Slowly ramping up rehab
Assad (oblique) has been completing bullpen sessions as part of his rehab work but has yet to throw live batting practice, which the team says is his next step, MLB.com reports.
Analysis
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Out until August/September
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday that Assad (oblique) is unlikely to return until August or September, 670 The Score reports.
Analysis
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Plays catch
Assad (oblique) played catch Monday, Zoe Grossman 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.