Cubs Option RHP Hunter Bigger To Iowa, Add RHP Javier Assad To 26-Man Roster

The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-handed reliver Hunter Bigge to Triple-A Iowa following the team’s 8–3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Bigge made three appearances in the last week, including a scoreless inning in his big league debut in Baltimore in which he touched 100 mph in his first career strikeout.

Impact On Cubs’ Bullpen

With Bigge being optioned, the Cubs are back to seven arms in the bullpen. With LHP Luke Little being placed on the 15-Day IL last week, RHP Jorge Lopez and RHP Porter Hodge could see an increased workload. Lopez was signed to a minor league deal back in mid-June after being DFA’d by the New York Mets. In six appearances with the Cubs thus far, Lopez has posted a 1.17 ERA in 7.2 IP and fanned four while walking three.

Assad Returns To Rotation

RHP Javier Assad was activated from the 15-Day IL as the team’s “27th Man” for the second-leg of the Cubs’ doubleheader on Saturday. The 26-year-old tossed just 2.1 IP and allowed three earned runs on seven hits on Saturday evening. Assad has posted a 3.27 ERA in 17 starts this season.

Outlook For Rotation

The front four in the rotation (LHP Shota Imanaga, LHP Justin Steele, RHP Kyle Hendricks, and RHP Jameson Taillon) was solid for the most part in the first half of the 2024 season. However, in Assad’s absence, Hayden Wesneski made three starts this month and was roughed up in two of those.

He allowed 11 runs (four earned) in the first leg of Saturday’s doubleheader in St. Louis. Wesneski still has two minor league options, so I would expect him to be optioned to Triple-A Iowa following the All-Star break.