Javier Assad: Everything you need to know

Assad (3-1) tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Friday's 7-1 victory over the Rangers. He allowed a hit and a walk, while striking out one. Ben Brown started for the Cubs and gave them four solid innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Assad stepped up with some important length and earned his third win of the year and second in relief. The righty has a subpar 6.00 ERA across 24 innings so far, but that figure is inflated by the nine runs he allowed on April 13 and the six runs he gave up on April 25. Outside of those two bad outings, Assad has a sharp 0.52 ERA.

Assad surrendered six earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two batters across 2.1 innings of relief in Saturday's 12-4 loss to the Dodgers. Assad made his second consecutive appearance out of the bullpen, after he had started in each of his first three outings of the season and yielded 10 earned runs over 15.2 innings. Following Matthew Boyd's recent return from the injured list, the Cubs opted to keep Colin Rea in the rotation over Assad as their fifth starter, but Assad ended up being thrust into action Saturday in long relief of Rea, who was chased midway through the fourth inning. Assad didn't fare any better while mopping up behind Rea and now holds a 7.58 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across 19 innings on the campaign.

Assad did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Mets, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Assad allowed a solo homer in the fifth inning but was otherwise strong, departing one out shy of a quality start at 82 pitches. The 28-year-old has sandwiched two solid efforts around a nine-run blowup Monday, leaving him with a 5.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 15.2 innings. With Matthew Boyd (biceps) expected to return from the injured list next week, it's unclear what Assad's role will be moving forward.