Assad Keeps Dealing, Gaming Out the Rotation, Who Else Could Close? And Other Cubs Bullets

Michael Cerami

Apr 21, 2024

Let’s just jump right into it.

Javier Assad had a wobbly start to his game yesterday, immediately allowing a double and a walk to open things up, while dealing with some clear command issues. Miguel Amaya took notice and trotted out for an early visit. After that, Assad sat down the next three batters in a row. And then the three after that. And then five more after that, before finally giving up a two-out single in the 5th. All together, Assad retired 11 straight batters (and 12 of 13) after Amaya’s first-inning visit. I’d say that was a pretty well-timed and executed visit by the Cubs young catcher, eh?

Ultimately, Assad started losing it a bit in the fifth, and his day ended early, but successfully (4.2 IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K). Through four starts on the year (21.1 IP), Assad has a 2.11 ERA (3.74 FIP). He’s staying off barrels, he’s generating weak contact, and he’s striking a lot of guys out. Next steps would be improving command and trying to consistently get into the sixth inning. But we’re talking about the nominal “sixth” starter here. Those are incredible problems (or goals) to have. If Kyle Hendricks doesn’t ace his test today, I really don’t think you could justify bouncing Assad from the rotation anytime soon.

As for Ben Brown, he may have already been bumped from the rotation after Jameson Taillon’s return, coming in to relieve Shota Imanaga last night. Although, with the Thursday rain-out, a double-header yesterday, an off-day tomorrow, Taillon back, Hendricks at a turning point, and the creative way Craig Counsell uses a pitching staff, I don’t really know if we can say for certain what’s coming next. Sahadev Sharma tried to coax some details out of Counsell at The Athletic, but it was just a canned “I expect him to get outs,” response. Correct? Sure. Frustratingly vague? Absolutely.

So right now, I guess the Cubs rotation goes (in any order): Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Jordan Wicks, Javias Assad, and Kyle Hendricks, with Brown on the outside looking in.

Elsewhere in the bullpen … Adbert Alzolay blew his league-leading fourth save of the season, one more than he blew all of 2023. He’s got a 4.50 ERA (5.20 FIP), a 21.4% strikeout rate, and a 9.5% walk rate. Worst of all, he’s getting barreled up at almost twice his 2023 rate. And it’s not just like he’s getting tagged only by lefties, which was a prior issue. Pretty much everyone is getting Alzolay right now, and that’s a big problem, because he’s not going anywhere, even if he’s not the one closing games: “We need Adbert to get outs,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Regardless of where it is, we need Adbert to be an effective member of the bullpen. I strongly believe that he will be. It obviously stings when it comes at the end of the game there. But we need outs. And Adbert is going to get us big outs this year.”

You might be disinclined to run Alzolay out there for another save opportunity anytime soon, but I really don’t know if it’s as easy as handing it to someone else. Hector Neris still isn’t locked in, to my eye. Julian Merryweather is out for a while. And Mark Leiter Jr., who’s been the Cubs most trustworthy reliever this year, is probably best saved for critical moments at any point of the game, and especially high-leverage plate appearances against left-handed bats. That’s the top four arms in the pen.

Beyond those four, you might like what Keegan Thompson has been doing, but we didn’t even know if he still had “it” until, like, a week ago. And I still don’t know if he’s able to go one inning, multiple days in a row (don’t forget about that little hurdle). Yency Almonte is obviously not a closer. Neither is Colten Brewer. Neither is Drew Smyly. Luke Little and Daniel Palencia may have the stuff, but they are not nearly polished enough to move up yet. So guess who that leaves … Ben Brown.

With his stuff, Brown absolutely has the profile of a closer, and we’re pretty certain he’s not going to throw 140+ innings this year no matter what. So who knows, maybe he’ll get the occasional chance while Alzolay works through stuff. But the flip side is that Brown can also cover multiple innings at a time when most of the Cubs rotation is still not lasting deep into these games. And, again, if Hendricks is bad again today, you might want Brown in the rotation at least until Justin Steele comes back in (hopefully) a couple weeks.

But let’s put a pin in this, because we could dissect the bullpen all day. For now, let’s just hope Kyle Hendricks looks REALLY good today, which would provide a path for Brown to contribute meaningful innings in relief.

Kevin Alcantara continued his hot streak yesterday with his second homer of the year.

The Jaguar continues to prowl. @Cubs No. 5 prospect Kevin Alcántara swats a home run for his ninth hit in the past five games for @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/6PXYtav8Da— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 20, 2024

After going hitless in his first seven games with 11 strikeouts, Alcantara has ten hits in his last five games, including a double, two homers, a walk, and just three strikeouts. It’s been an incredible turnaround for a guy who has now had slow starts in back-to-back seasons. Maybe that’s just part of his game. We’ll have to remember that if/when he gets the bump to Triple-A later this year.

Speaking of slow starts, Pete Crow-Armstrong still isn’t really hitting in Iowa, but the defense remains elite.

Don't test PCA's arm either 😤 pic.twitter.com/a4gtkDwwUg
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 20, 2024

Remember this guy? Of course you do. Munenori Kawasaki is probably one of the funniest and most endearing Cubs of our lifetime.

Munenori Kawasaki update:
He's still eating bananas

🎥 ig: mune.kawasaki.official pic.twitter.com/AsAWkt0Olr
— Infield Fly Girl (@infieldflygrl) April 21, 2024

More on the Cubs fan who collected one million Cubs baseball cards.

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Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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