Assad Throws Another Gem as Cubs Avoid Sweep in Atlanta

The Chicago Cubs came into Wednesday's series finale losers of two straight, with Tuesday's loss serving as one of the first true blow-out games all season. That in mind, the Atlanta Braves are still no easy task as Charlie Morton took the mound at Truist Park. Javier Assad was in line to be the stopper of the latest skid.

Tale of the Tape

The Cubs got started quickly. So quickly, that the Marquee Sports Network scoreboard graphic wasn't fully loaded yet. On the very first pitch of the game, Mike Tauchman went opposite field for his fourth home run of the season.

The offense didn't stop in the top of the first. With Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger on base, Christopher Morel grounded into a force out. Although Bellinger was out at second, Suzuki scored after his earlier double while sitting on third to make it a 2-0 game.

A walk from Miles Mastrobuoni and a single from Nick Madrigal set up a bases loaded opportunity. Pete Crow-Armstrong was hit by a pitch, driving in a run for the Cubs and extending the lead to 3-0.

The offense picked up in the third inning for the Cubs. Another Mastrobuoni walk and another Madrigal single left runners on the corners. Morton tried to pick off Madrigal at first, but the ball got away. Mastrobuoni scored to give the Cubs the 4-0 lead.

The Cubs struck again in the top of the fifth. Following a Michael Busch single, Nick Madrigal singled but was thrown out at second. However, Busch ended up at third as a result. Crow-Armstrong hit a bunt single to score Busch and give the Cubs a 5-0 lead.

Atlanta got one back in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of former farmhand Zack Short. The infielder doubled, scoring Orlando Arcia on the play. However, before Atlanta scored, Javier Assad finished off a gem on an outing.

Assad went 6.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one walk. Assad also fanned seven along the way, picking up another quality start and his fourth win of the season. Assad's ERA lowered to 1.49 and he's cementing himself as one of the best pitchers in the league that no one is talking about.

The Cubs added additional insurance in the top of the eighth. Pete Crow-Armstrong led the inning off with a triple, showing off his speed on a beautiful ball into the left-center gap. Yan Gomes scored PCA on a sacrifice fly in the next plate appearance, changing the score to 6-1 in favor of the visitors.

For good measure, the Cubs added one more run. After a tough series in Atlanta, and bad memories there as well, Seiya Suzuki got his revenge. Following a Tauchman strikeout, Suzuki went yard for the fourth time this season, adding the cherry on top.

Ben Brown went two innings out of the bullpen, and Luke Little, who was called up on Wednesday, closed out the game. The Cubs defeated the Braves 7-1 to avoid the sweep.

He's the Stopper

Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga are very much serving as ace pitchers right now for the Cubs. On Wednesday, Assad went six-shutout innings, allowing just four hits and one walk to a very good Braves team. As a result, the Cubs stopped their two-game skid and got back on track before they return home to start a four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Assad is baseball's least talked about stud . With his 1.49 ERA, Assad is fourth in all of baseball among qualified pitchers. One of the three players ahead of him is early NL Rookie of the Year, and potentially Cy Young, favorite Imanaga.

Give Javier Assad the respect he deserves. I'm on record saying he likely returns to the bullpen when Jordan Wicks is healthy. However, there is a major case for sending Wicks to the pen and letting Assad continue his reign of terror as a starter instead.

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs return to Wrigley Field to begin a four-game set on Thursday. The Pittsburgh Pirates come to town, with young stud Jared Jones taking the mound in the first game. The Cubs took two of three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and will look to win another series against their NL Central rival.

Thursday's first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CDT. Justin Steele will take the bump for the Cubbies.

Subscribe to On Tap Sports Net on YouTube , and the Cubs On Tap podcast and Dingers: A Chicago Cubs Podcast for more Chicago Cubs content, updates, and hot takes!