The Chicago Cubs made a flurry of roster moves ahead of their doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers with Javier Assad being optioned.

From an off-day to staring down overtime, the Cubs kicked off a stretch of 14 games in 13 days on Tuesday night with a fresh face on the mound. Well, fresh for the 2025 campaign, that is. Javier Assad

Assad permitted five runs on 13 hits and two walks over eight innings in his two starts with the big club. He will cede his rotation spot to Jameson Taillon (calf), who will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Brewers.

Cubs P Javier Assad made his second start of the season, and it was good enough to secure a win. But with the Brewers looming, now what?

The Chicago Cubs have reinstated catcher Miguel Amaya and right-hander Javier Assad from the 60-day injured list.

The Cubs recalled Luke Little from Triple-A Iowa today and optioned Javier Assad to Iowa. Assad had struggled in two starts since returning last week. There’s still no word on when Jameson Taillon will be activated, though it could be for Game 2 today. Otherwise the Cubs might go with a bullpen game for the nightcap.

Assad didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Pirates, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.

Reese McGuire has performed admirably in filling in for Amaya, batting .235/.250/.459 (20-for-85) with six home runs, coincidentally in 27 games, and memorably, he hit two home runs in his first game as a Cub the day after Amaya was injured.

The Cubs didn’t score until the seventh inning, hitting back-to-back singles to take advantage of a leadoff walk. The Blue Jays continued to tack on. Daulton Varsho brought their lead back up to four runs with a solo homer off Brown in the eighth. It was the only run Brown allowed in four innings.

MLB player prop bets and odds for Andrew McCutchen on Sunday, August 17, 2025, as the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad bounced back nicely during his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The right-hander was hit around for four runs on eight hits during his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays.