With Assad back in town, Cubs consider the possibilities
Saturday marked a return for Cubs pitcher Javier Assad.
It's not the return, since he's about to head out for a rehab assignment in Iowa. But he was back in the Cubs clubhouse for the first time since spring training, when he suffered the first of two oblique injuries. He has yet to pitch in a major league game this season.
“It was really great to see (teammates), I missed them,” Assad said, using translator Freddy Quevedo “I didn't miss a game. I was watching all the games on TV. Now that I'm going to have a chance to watch a game from the dugout, it's going to be great. It's great to be back.”
With a 3.40 ERA over three seasons, Assad has been one of the Cubs most reliable starters. The feeling is they might be adding an experienced pitcher and fresh arm for the stretch run.
“He didn't have an arm injury, so we're not protecting anything from that side of it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Really, we feel like he should be at his best. I think we're going to prepare him as a starter, but I think we're willing to consider everything in August.”
Assad is expected to make his first Triple-A start on Wednesday in Des Moines against Indianapolis.
Quality catching:
Over the past two weeks, both White Sox rookie catchers, Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel, have posted an OPS above 1.000.
They've generally rotated behind the plate, but using one at designated hitter while the other catches seems to be something the Sox will do more down the road, along with the possibility of keeping a third catcher on the roster.
“We've done it a couple times early,” Sox manager Will Venable said of putting both in the lineup. “I think where our roster is at, it's not a necessity, although there is value in getting these guys consistent at-bats.
“I feel like they're in an OK spot. Obviously, the catcher's position takes a lot out of you, and as they're navigating their first major league season, I don't think it's the worst thing to have two guys that are capable.”
Sorting out Shota:
The day after Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga was knocked around for 7 runs in 3 innings, manager Craig Counsell wasn't worried about the health or well-being of his ace left-hander.
Counsell compared it to when Imanaga gave up 10 runs against the Mets last year, then didn't allow more than 4 earned run in a game in his final 15 starts.
“You check on all those things,” Counsell said. “Nothing's come up from that perspective. He didn't pitch well. Sometimes that's a real thing, it just happens. The best pitchers have it.
“It was a bad start, learn from it and take what you need to change from it, go deliver a good one the next time. That's being a major league starter.”
Around the horn:
Sox rookie pitcher Shane Smith, on the injured list with a sprained ankle, did three rounds of live batting practice Saturday. Manager Will Venable said everything went well, but the team is still deciding whether to send him on a rehab assignment or what the next step will be. …
The Sox traded infielder Tristan Gray to Tampa Bay for cash considerations. Gray hit .270 at Triple-A Charlotte this year, was called up briefly in June, but didn't play in a game.