Injury Update: Cubs Place Javier Assad on 15-Day IL

The Chicago Cubs' starting pitching staff has another injury on their hands. With RHP Ben Brown and LHP Jordan Wicks already on the IL, RHP Javier Assad is joining them. Per the Cubs, Assad has been placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm extensor strain.

Wicks battled a similar injury to Assad, so the Cubs will surely want to be careful with Assad's recovery. With Assad hitting the 15-day IL, the Cubs added RHP Vinny Nittoli after he was DFA'd by the Oakland Athletics. In addition, RHP Yency Almonte has been moved to the 60-day IL to create space for Nittoli.

Nittoli spent some time with the Cubs organization in 2023 before he was traded to the New York Mets. The righty has been off to a hot start in 2024 and the Cubs are hoping to hit with another DFA'd pitcher just as they did with Tyson Miller. Learn more about Nittoli here .

Assad has been really good in 2024. Over 16 starts, Assad has thrown 83.0 innings while pitching to a 3.04 ERA . That said, the righty has struggled by his standards in the month of June, pitching to a 5.49 ERA over four June starts. His presence in the rotation will be missed regardless.

With three top young pitchers on the IL, Hayden Wesneski will likely remain in the rotation. He started Wednesday's loss and allowed three runs in 4.0 innings of work. As of now, Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon will be leaned on even more with so many injuries to the team's young pitchers.

Almonte wasn't expected to throw until closer to the All-Star break. His transfer is more about a 40-man roster spot than it is about any setbacks, unless the Cubs haven't reported anything on that front yet.

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