60-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 8/15/2025
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.
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
Assad, who suffered a left oblique strain during spring training and then aggravated the injury during a rehab start in late April, has yet to throw a pitch for the Cubs this season. The righty is still targeting an August return, but after missing such a significant chunk of time, it wouldn't be surprising to see him eased into action via a long-relief role. Assad worked exclusively out of the rotation last year, compiling a 3.73 ERA in 29 starts (147 innings) for the Cubs. In 2023, he served as a valuable swing man and posted a 3.05 ERA across 109.1 innings while making 10 starts and 22 relief appearances.
Assad, who suffered a left oblique strain during spring training and then aggravated the injury during a rehab start in late April, has yet to throw a pitch for the Cubs this season. The righty is still targeting an August return, but after missing such a significant chunk of time, it wouldn't be surprising to see him eased into action via a long-relief role. Assad worked exclusively out of the rotation last year, compiling a 3.73 ERA in 29 starts (147 innings) for the Cubs. In 2023, he served as a valuable swing man and posted a 3.05 ERA across 109.1 innings while making 10 starts and 22 relief appearances.
Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB 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 | ||||||||
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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
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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Moved to 60-day IL
The Cubs transferred Assad (oblique) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis
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Dealing with Grade 2 oblique strain
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Assad has been shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
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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
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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.