Cubs' Tommy Hottovy: 'Underrated' Javier Assad is 'just a complete pitcher'

(670 The Score) When the Cubs opened the season without veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon, who's dealing with a back injury, they turned to versatile right-hander Javier Assad to round out their rotation.

In his first start of the new campaign, Assad responded by pitching six shutout innings in the Cubs’ 12-2 win over the Rockies on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Assad lowered his career ERA to 2.94 over 153 career innings, and he has a 2.80 ERA in 19 career starts.

In the mind of Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, Assad's success isn’t a surprise anymore.

“He’s got to be one of the more underrated, just kind of like, ‘You know, it’s just Javy, he’ll pitch today and we’ll be fine,'" Hottovy said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning. "And you look up and it’s six innings of shutout baseball. He can pitch. He can move the ball around the strike zone. He doesn't throw anything straight. Everything is moving. He’s got deception. He’s not afraid of anything. He’s just a complete pitcher and has continued to go out there and prove it over and over and over again.

“He’ll do whatever you need, and it's such a valuable piece to an organization, to a team, when you have a guy that’s unselfish and just loves taking the ball and going out there and competing and having fun doing it. His sinker is just so good. You see the swings and the takes, the ways he can use it to both lefty and righty hitters and how he can move the ball around the strike zone. It’s just really fun to watch.

“He’s a guy that when you talk about value to an organization, Javy’s got to be up there.”

Weather permitting in a cold, snowy Chicago, the Cubs will host the Rockies on Wednesday evening Wrigley Field as they seek a sweep in their opening home series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pregame will begin at 6:05 p.m. on 670 The Score. You can listen by clicking here or by downloading the Audacy app.