Well, I’ve been talking about the Chicago Cubs good pitching depth since spring training and now it’s going to be put to the test heading into the fourth week of the regular season as Jameson Taillon has been placed on the 15-day injured list.

The veteran right-hander was scheduled to start the Cubs series opener Thursday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Taillon will now miss at least a couple of weeks because of a groin strain. Javier Assad has been called up from Triple-A Iowa and will make the start in place of Taillon against the Dodgers.

Taillon, 31, has been fairly reliable to take the ball every fifth day the last few years, making 29 starts in 2021 and 32 starts last year with the New York Yankees. The Cubs number three starter had mixed results in his first three starts of 2023, posting a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings. Taillon had his best start in Los Angeles on Saturday, throwing five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out seven and walking two against the Dodgers.

Definitely not what you want to see in April, but hopefully this is a minor strain and Taillon misses the minimum amount of time.

Javier Assad Spot Starter

Right-handed pitcher Javier Assad made the Cubs Opening Day bullpen, but he was optioned back down to Triple-A after two relief appearances. The 25-year-old allowed six earned runs in 4.2 innings, giving up three runs to the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers.

Assad has only made one outing with the Iowa Cubs since he was optioned to Triple-A last Monday. The right-handed pitcher threw 2.2 innings on April 14. Assad wasn’t sharp in that appearance either, allowing two runs, while giving up two hits, a walk and another runner reached base via HBP.

Last year, Assad made his MLB debut with the Cubs and although he struggled with walks that cut his starts short, the right-handed pitcher was able to work out of trouble and pitch to a 3.11 ERA in 37.2 innings. He made eight total starts in the majors and in five of them Assad gave up no more than one earned run.

Overall in 2022 at the minor league level, Assad posted a 2.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 108.1 innings.

Cubs Top Rotation in NL

Javier Assad is now joining the top starting rotation in the National League.

Cubs starting pitchers allowed a total of two earned runs in 19 innings against the Oakland A’s in their three-game sweep this week. Thanks to that effort the Cubs starting rotation now has a combined 2.66 ERA, ranking number one in the National League and third overall in MLB behind the Minnesota Twins (2.65 ERA) and Tampa Bay Rays (2.31 ERA).

Marcus Stroman: 4 Starts, 0.75 ERA, 24 IP
Justin Steele: 4 Starts, 1.44 ERA, 25 IP
Hayden Wesneski: 3 Starts, 4.15 ERA, 13 IP
Jameson Taillon: 3 Starts, 4.50 ERA, 14 IP
Drew Smyly: 3 Starts, 4.70 ERA, 15.1 IP