The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list Sunday and optioned right-hander Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa to clear a roster spot. Cabrera is scheduled to start the series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The move was first reported by 104.3 The Score’s Bruce Levine, who noted that Assad was sent down as Cabrera came off the injured list and prepared to take the mound.
Cabrera had been sidelined after straining his left hamstring and adductor muscle during a game against the New York Mets. His return had been anticipated for several days, and the club confirmed the activation in time for the final contest of the series with its longtime National League Central rival.
Assad leaves the major league roster after providing the Cubs with steady innings across multiple roles this season. He has worked as a starter, long reliever and traditional bullpen arm, logging 80.1 innings with a 3.59 ERA.
Under roster rules, Assad must remain in the minor leagues for at least 15 days. The earliest the Cubs can bring him back is Aug. 31, unless they need to replace another injured player.
Team officials chose an optionable arm for the corresponding move rather than designating another pitcher for assignment. Aaron Civale, acquired in a low-key trade-deadline deal, has posted a 2.84 ERA in relief appearances and shown stronger underlying numbers than Assad in recent outings.
Assad’s surface statistics mask some concerns about his overall effectiveness. His strikeout rate sits at 16.5 percent, and he has allowed 1.68 home runs per nine innings. Those figures contribute to a 5.01 FIP and 4.42 xFIP that more closely resemble replacement-level performance.
Still, Assad’s versatility gives the organization valuable depth. Once he reports to Iowa, the Cubs are expected to keep him ready as a multi-inning option who can step into different roles when needed.
Assad entered the season with two remaining options. This year’s demotion uses one of them, but the club retains the ability to option him again in 2027 if circumstances require it.
Manager Craig Counsell indicated the Cubs will stick with a five-man rotation for the immediate future even with Cabrera back in the mix. He suggested the club may skip one starter during the next turn through the rotation.
Counsell did not rule out expanding to a six-man rotation once rosters grow to 14 pitchers on Sept. 1.
The team acquired Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and David Peterson before the trade deadline to bolster a staff hit hard by injuries. Cade Horton, Ben Brown and Justin Steele remain unavailable, leaving the Cubs short-handed in the starting corps for much of the summer.
A six-man setup later this month could help keep the remaining arms fresher heading into the final stretch and potential postseason play.
The Cubs hold a firm grip on the top National League wild-card position entering Sunday’s action. They sit four games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and hold a six-game cushion over the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Keeping pitchers healthy remains a priority as the club navigates the final six weeks of the regular season.
Assad’s demotion provides a temporary solution while Cabrera attempts to regain his form and contribute to a rotation still recovering from earlier setbacks. Whether the Cubs eventually stretch the staff to six starters will depend on health, performance and the September roster expansion.
For now, the focus remains on integrating Cabrera smoothly and managing the workload of the arms already in place.
