The Cubs have not started out the season well, and now have lost a second starting pitcher to injury:
Boyd had a rough outing on Opening Day, but recovered and threw very well last Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10.
Let’s hope this turns out to be correct:
Javier Assad has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this year. He threw three shutout innings against Columbus, then got hit pretty hard by Louisville. Assad is pretty much a known quantity; his MLB seasons have all been quite similar. I wouldn’t expect him to give the value Boyd does, but he will eat up some innings and probably throw reasonably well. He threw 75 pitches against Louisville last Thursday, so he should be ready to go tomorrow and perhaps throw up to 90 pitches or so.
This obviously isn’t the way any of us wanted the season to begin. Fortunately for the Cubs, they do have some starting pitcher depth. Let’s hope it doesn’t get tested any further.
