Assad continues to prove reliability despite Cubs' loss

DENVER -- The second-inning sinker that Javier Assad fired to Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman tailed sharply and veered inside. Goodman tucked in his hands and got his barrel to the ball, launching it high into the night and deep into the left-field stands at Coors Field.

“The home run was a good pitch -- a very good pitch,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Off the plate -- where you want him swinging. The guy had a big night. He had a great night.”

Goodman tormented the Cubs with a two-homer, seven-RBI outburst that sent the North Siders to a 9-5 loss and did damage to the team’s diminishing postseason hopes. With the defeat, the Cubs slipped six games back of the Mets in the race for the National League’s final Wild Card spot.

The grand slam that Goodman belted in the eighth inning off Cubs reliever Nate Pearson effectively erased the three-run, game-tying homer Michael Busch delivered for Chicago in the top of the frame. It also created a lopsided final tally that did not really offer insight into another solid showing from Assad.

“Javi pitched really well,” Counsell said. “He limited the damage. You get six innings in this park -- he's done a nice job and he gave us a chance to win.”

Assad’s final line in the no-decision was not overwhelming -- the righty was charged with four runs over six frames, in which he struck out five and walked three -- but that it was one of his shakier outings in months says something. The righty had not allowed four runs in an outing since late June, serving as a quiet metronome at the back of Chicago’s rotation.

Initially, Assad looked ticketed for the Cubs’ bullpen this season, but an injury to Jameson Taillon in the spring vacated a job as a starter on the Opening Day roster. The right-hander is a throwback with a sinker-led arsenal with a wide array of offerings (Statcast showed seven pitch types on Friday). He has logged a 3.27 ERA with 116 strikeouts against 59 walks in 137 2/3 innings so far this season.

“I feel really happy,” Assad said via translator Fredy Quevedo Jr., “really happy that I've had the opportunity to just start the whole year. The last couple starts, I'll just try to give them my best out there. But I'm really happy with the job that we've done.”

In a discussion about the potential holdovers for the ‘25 rotation, Counsell said it is time to toss aside any “unproven” labels when mentioning Assad. The manager pointed out that the righty is now two years into 100-plus innings of reliable, consistent results. Digging into the numbers also shows Assad’s ability to turn things up when he winds up in a jam.

“There haven't been many pitchers that have proven that's a skill,” Counsell said. “I think Javi has seemingly proved it is a skill for him, because he's done that very repeatedly this year. It feels like his best pitches have been made at the biggest moments.”

The Rockies did buck the trend at a few turns, with Goodman coming through with his two-run, second-inning homer with two outs and a runner on second against Assad. In the fourth, Goodman proved pesky again with a two-out, RBI single with a man on second again. Assad did end his outing with a double play and flyout -- both coming with at least one runner in scoring position.

Consider these results from Assad going into Friday’s outing:

? Since his MLB debut on Aug. 23, 2022, Assad ranked first in the Majors (min. 250 innings) with a left-on-base rate of 83.3%. He had a 3.10 ERA in that span, ranking ninth overall between a ‘23 NL Cy Young contender (Justin Steele, 3.05) and a ‘24 NL Cy candidate (Chris Sale, 3.11).

? Over the ‘23-24 seasons combined, Assad led qualified MLB pitchers in opposing batting average (.128), on-base percentage (.219), slugging percentage (.193) and weighted on-base average (.192) with runners in scoring position.

? Assad held opposing batters to a .127 average and .188 wOBA with RISP this season. Both ranked second in the Majors among qualified pitchers.

“It’s really pretty hard to argue with what the performance has been,” Counsell said, “and hard not to give him a lot of credit for his performance the last couple years. And I think he does it in a way that's a little different, but that's his journey, and that's his story. That's who he is.

“And so, I think when you see it kind of on a every start basis, you come to respect it and understand it. And it's fun to watch.”