Somewhat quietly, Javier Assad has been an unsung hero for the Chicago Cubs in recent years. He's not a guy to garner a ton of headlines or put together especially impressive lines in the box score, but he's been a reliable safety net in the starting rotation since making his Major League debut in 2022.
During that time, nearly 70 percent of his appearances have come as a starting pitcher. But with Jameson Taillon returning from the IL and re-joining the rotation on Wednesday night, Assad was the odd man out, moving to the bullpen for the final weeks of the regular season.