Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Javier Assad and why is he starting for the Cubs?
Javier Assad is a rookie pitcher signed as an international free agent from Tijuana, Mexico in 2015. He's been called up to make his first major league start after a strong 2022 season where he posted a 2.51 ERA at AA Tennessee and a career-low 1.04 WHIP at AAA Iowa.
What happened in the Cubs' previous game against the Cardinals?
The Cubs lost 1-0 to the Cardinals despite a great performance from Drew Smyly, who went 7 innings and allowed only 1 run on a Pujols home run. Jordan Montgomery threw a complete game shutout for St. Louis in his 4th start with the team.
How have the Cubs been playing since the All-Star break?
The Cubs have been playing well, going 17-12 since the All-Star break and not losing a series since the last Cardinals series. However, their bullpen has struggled to protect late-inning leads after trading away bullpen arms at the deadline.
Who has been performing well for the Cubs recently?
Nick Madrigal has an OPS of .723 in his last 14 games with consistent playing time, Franmil Reyes has a .903 OPS with the Cubs after starting with a 9-game hitting streak, and Willson Contreras has a .996 OPS in the last week. Seiya Suzuki is also heating up with an .860 OPS in the last week.
What does the Cubs' upcoming schedule look like after this series?
The Cubs face a tough road schedule with three 3-game series at Milwaukee, Toronto, and St. Louis. This will be a good test for the young core to play against playoff teams in high-intensity games, even though the Cubs are out of the playoff chase.