In a season full of pitcher injuries, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has learned just how solid Javier Assad is.
The 28-year-old right-hander, who pitches Sunday in Chicago to try to stop a St. Louis Cardinals sweep, is 6-1 with a 4.53 ERA in 13 games (six starts).
The Cubs have four starters on the injured list and have had 13 pitchers total spend time on the IL this season.
“We have talked about guys getting opportunities, and certainly Javy has come in at a time when we really needed it and has delivered a couple of big starts, big performances,” Counsell said. “This is how you figure out how to stick in the big leagues. It hasn’t been all smooth for Javy; there have been bumps. You don’t know when you are going to get these opportunities so you have to stay ready.
“Javy just kind of keeps telling you, ‘I’ll be ready when I get the opportunity.’ “
Assad won his last start June 24, a 10-3 victory over the Mets, giving up five hits and three runs in five innings. He struck out five and walked just two.
He has won three straight starts and the Cubs have won nine of his last 11 appearances.
“I feel really good with all my pitches,” Assad said. “My sinker is really helping, but I feel good with all my pitches. I feel my velocity has been really good. I’m trying to take advantage of every opportunity. I like to start, but I’m ready for anything.”
Assad is 24-13 with a 3.57 ERA in 91 career appearances, including 60 starts, since his major league debut with the Cubs in 2022.
He is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 games, including five starts, against the Cardinals.
St. Louis will counter with Matthew Liberatore. The 26-year-old southpaw is 4-5 with a 5.33 ERA.
After losing two straight, Liberatore beat the host Atlanta Braves 5-3 in his last outing, giving up one hit and one run in five innings. He walked four and struck out nine.
Liberatore is 20-29 with a 4.77 ERA in 137 career outings, including 70 starts.
He is 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 outings (five starts) against the Cubs.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was honored to tell Jordan Walker that the outfielder had made his first National League All-Star team on Saturday.
“There was a lot of emotion in the room,” Marmol said. “We have been with him through the ups and downs, so it was nice to be able to tell him that today.”
Walker is hitting .291 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs. He has an .870 OPS.
The 24-year-old had never hit more than 16 home runs and never had more than 51 RBIs in one season (both in 2023). He even has more stolen bases (11) than he has ever had in one season since his major league debut in March 2023.
Walker, who was selected 21st overall by St. Louis in the 2020 MLB Draft, has a career OPS of .728.
St. Louis has won five of six and is in surprise contention for a playoff spot despite trading away most of their veterans in the offseason.
Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt is a big reason why.
Wetherholt led off the game Saturday against the Cubs with a home run and reached base four times.
He is hitting .266 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs. He has a .778 OPS.
The left-handed-hitting Wetherholt’s home run was to the opposite field.
“Today was a good example of what I have been trying to do, work the back side of the field,” he said. “We are just excited. We wake up excited every day to play. We just try to end with a win.”
–Field Level Media
