4 internal Cubs pitching options after Javier Assad's injury setback

The Chicago Cubs' starting pitching depth all of a sudden looks a lot thinner, as the team announced right-hander Javier Assad has been shut down from baseball activity.

Assad was diagnosed with a grade 2 oblique strain, an injury that typically has a return timeline of 6-8 weeks. The 27-year-old initially injured his oblique at the beginning of Spring Training, and he was on pace to return to the big-league team soon. But Assad exited his rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs on April 22 after grabbing his side while he was warming up for the fifth inning.

The news is not great, as the Cubs were likely expecting Assad to slot into the bullpen as the team's long reliever. Colin Rea originally had that job but was forced to step into the starting rotation when Justin Steele went down for the season with elbow surgery. Steele's injury will likely force the team to pursue a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, but also losing Assad only makes the problem worse. But until the trade deadline comes on July 31, here are the internal options that the Cubs will have to rely on.

1. RHP Chris Flexen

Chris Flexen seems like the next logical major-league callup. The Cubs signed the 30-year-old to a minor league contract in February, and he has been lighting up Triple-A with a 0.40 ERA in his first four starts. Flexen also has 19 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP through 22.1 innings of work.

Granted, this good performance is coming against Triple-A hitters, and Flexen is coming off a bad year with the Chicago White Sox last season. In 30 starts for the South Siders in 2024, Flexen posted a 4.95 ERA over 160 innings.

But the Cubs may turn to Flexen as a long reliever out of the bullpen. He has 153 games of Major League experience, so seeing what he can bring to the table is worth a shot at some point this year. The Cubs definitely didn't want to use him this early in the season, but Assad's injury could force their hand.

2. LHP Jordan Wicks

Southpaw Jordan Wicks has already been given one chance to prove himself at the big-league level this year, and he failed. The 25-year-old earned a call-up on April 18, but he was sent back to Iowa just three days later after giving up six hits and five runs in just two innings of work out of the bullpen.

Wicks' short leash emulates the no-nonsense approach the Cubs seem to be taking this year. They have been aggressively replacing players who aren't performing, and the team is clearly desperate to keep their hot streak going to help return Chicago to the playoffs.

But Wicks still has minor league options left, so the Cubs will bring him back at some point in 2025. If another member of the starting rotation suffers an injury, I'd even expect Wicks to potentially slot into the starting rotation.

3. RHP Connor Noland

Connor Noland is another right-hander who is currently pitching in Iowa's starting rotation. The 25-year-old has a 4.12 ERA in four starts, with 20 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work. Noland's ERA ballooned after he gave up six earned runs in his last start on April 18, but he had been dominant before that outing, and he turned in back-to-back quality starts on April 6 and 12.

Last season, Noland enjoyed a nice year by setting career highs in starts (25), innings pitched (134), and strikeouts (116). Noland has 67.1 Triple-A innings. Noland is not a power pitcher, as his average fastball velocity has floated around 91 mph this year. But his offspeed deliveries are capable of generating strikeouts and soft contact. With injuries hitting the team, Noland could get his first shot at MLB this year.

4. Cade Horton

As the 2025 season goes on, it feels more and more likely that Cade Horton will get the call this year. The Cubs' top pitching prospect only threw 34.1 innings before going down with a shoulder injury last year, but he has looked sharp in his initial outings this year. The 23-year-old has 23 strikeouts in 17 innings, while limiting opposing hitters to a .130 batting average with a 1.06 WHIP.

The former first-round pick features an excellent fastball and slider combo that generates elite swing-and-miss numbers (50% last year with the slider). This is a pitching prospect that the Cubs need to hold onto and he looks like he's finally on track for a vital development year if he can stay healthy. Since his innings will likely be limited coming off the shoulder injury, the Cubs may utilize him out of the bullpen later this year, where he could be a massive X-factor down the stretch.