Cubs Place Nick Burdi on IL, Recall Javier Assad

I’m 36,000 feet over the Caribbean, so a press release will have to suffice.

The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa and placed right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 21) with appendicitis.

Assad, 25, is in his fourth stint with the Cubs and is 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA (10 ER/17.2 IP) in five games (one start), including a 1.74 ERA (2 ER/10.1 IP) in his last two outings since May 4. In four starts with Iowa this season, Assad is 0-1 with a 3.68 EA (6 ER/14.2 IP) with seven walks and 15 strikeouts. Assad last pitched for Iowa May 18 at Indianapolis, allowing two runs in 4.0 innings.

Signed by Chicago as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2015 out of Tijuana, Mexico, Assad made his major league debut last season, going 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA (13 ER/37.2 IP), 20 walks, 30 strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP in nine games (eight starts). He finished the season with 11.1 scoreless innings spanning his final three starts, including 5.0 shutout innings at Philadelphia on September 29 and 5.1 shutout frames October 4 in Cincinnati.

In all or part of seven minor league seasons, Assad is 25-37 with one save and a 3.95 ERA (238 ER/542.1 IP) in 116 games, all but eight as a starting pitcher. He has walked 180 and struck out 494 batters to go along with a 1.37 WHIP.

Burdi, 30, has made three relief appearances, allowing three runs in 3.0 innings, for Chicago since he was selected from Triple-A Iowa May 15. With Iowa, Burdi has posted a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) in 11 relief appearances.