The Cubs go for the series sweep.

I watched this game so you didn’t have to.

PHILADELPHIA — Over the course of a 162-game season, there are days when the starting pitcher needs to stay in and provide innings during a rough outing. It was Chicago Cubs right-hander Javier Assad’s night to wear it Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies tagged Assad for nine runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings in a 13-7 loss that was more of a blowout than the final score ...

Injuries thrust Javier Assad into the rotation. He delivered a dominant, shutout performance, proving he belongs with the Cubs.

Javier Assad returns to lead the Cubs to a 9-2 win.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Opening the season at Triple-A Iowa was not the ideal beginning to the year for right-hander Javier Assad. The 28-year-old has proven to be a reliable big-league pitcher over the last four years, posting a 3.43 ERA in 78 games (54) starts for the Chicago Cubs in that span. But the Cubs’ starting pitching depth and Assad still having a minor-league option meant going to ...

Alex Bregman broke out of an 0-for13 slump with three hits and Javier Assad worked 5 2/3 shutout innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. The Cubs (5-6) banged out a season-best 16 hits and snapped a two-game skid. The Rays had their three-game winning streak halted in front of an announced crowd of 21,377 in the second game of their return to Tropicana Field.

The Cubs’ starting pitcher depth is already being tested.

Another Cubs starter goes down.