2 statistics that show the Cubs were smart to make their latest roster move

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.

Given his success in the rotation in recent years, it may feel like a peculiar move, but the simple truth is this: right now, Craig Counsell feels he has five superior options at his disposal. The decision was likely made easier by the underlying numbers that show that Assad has actually been better out of the pen than as a starter over the last few seasons.

Javier Assad has been quite effective out of the Cubs' bullpen

When looking at swing arms like Assad, something that always draws my eye is how they fare first, second, third time through the batting order. Today, working deep into ballgames isn't a requirement for starting pitchers, but it's still nice to know the wheels won't fall off in the fourth or fifth inning. In his career, the right-hander has actually gotten better as the game goes on and has avoided any major peaks or valleys in starts.

As a reliever, though, he's been even more effective. His first time through the order out of the bullpen, he's held opponents to a .231 average and .655 OPS. Second time through, he's been even better, evidenced by a .191 opponent average. The make-or-break with Assad will always be his control. He's not a big strikeout guy, so he'll need to limit the self-inflicted damage if he's going to be a valuable innings eater on days when Cubs starters don't have it.

Secondly, most of the damage against Assad in his career has come in low-leverage spots. When the pressure is on, he's found a ton of success, limiting opposing teams to a .194/.306/.303 slash line (a nearly 150-point drop in OPS compared to low-leverage spots). He's always managed to out-pitch the suggested metrics and the Cubs will hope he can continue to do so as they look to lock up a postseason berth and make some noise come October.