Cubs Activate Edward Cabrera To Start Sunday Against Cardinals

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The only good thing about injuries is that, eventually, a player returns to good health.

And so it is with right-hander Edward Cabrera, who was activated off the 15-day injured list and will start Sunday's game for the Chicago Cubs. Right-hander Javier Assad was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa.

Cabrera, who will face the St. Louis Cardinals in Sunday's series finale, has been out since June 24 with a strained left hamstring, his second stay on the IL this year following a brief blister issue on his right middle finger a month prior. His first year with the Cubs has not gone swimmingly as he has posted a 5.05 FIP (5.10 ERA) with walk and strikeout rates of 9.4% and 21%, respectively. He was a big offseason addition following a trade with the Miami Marlins, but returns in time for the most crucial part of the regular season after making three minor-league rehab starts.

Assad has been a valuable swingman for the pitching staff, able to start or relieve. While bouncing between the majors and Triple-A, Assad has appeared in 21 games, including 10 starts, and put up a 5.09 FIP (3.59 ERA) with a 6.5% walk rate and 16.5% strikeout rate.

 

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[Arlen]

How is it not true that Javier Assad is a better pitcher than Edward Cabrera? 

It's not about the speed and spin, it's about how a pitcher uses that to fool batters. Cabrera has been a classic case of a pitcher with "good stuff" that can't command and control it as well as better pitchers (such as Assad). When will they learn?

[Derwood]

nm

Edited 23 hours ago by Derwood

[We Got The Whole 9]

This guy horsefeathers sucks

[soccer10k]

Time to activate him to start for the Iowa Cubs on Friday or Saturday.

[Derwood]

Any chance we can squeeze a couple of good years out of him (a la Taillon) or is this just a bust?

[Victor Reichman]

Assad has come to the rescue for the Cubs with their injured pitching. He never should have been sent down again. Cabrera is a total bust and a worthless pickup at least so far. 

[Stratos]

21 hours ago, Arlen said:

How is it not true that Javier Assad is a better pitcher than Edward Cabrera? 

It's not about the speed and spin, it's about how a pitcher uses that to fool batters. Cabrera has been a classic case of a pitcher with "good stuff" that can't command and control it as well as better pitchers (such as Assad). When will they learn?

Command is definitely an issue.

I think he also we has an issue where he throws 3 pitches (4 seam, sinker, change) at similar speeds with similar movement profiles (per BB Savant).  There's not enough difference so hitters can sit on the speed/movement.  And his command isn't good enough to increase his use of breaking balls earlier in the count.