John Antonoff / For the Sun-Times
MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs have officially ruled out right-hander Jaiver Assad for the start of the season, manager Craig Counsell revealed Saturday.
Counsell said Assad is “doing great” in his rehab after straining his left oblique in the weeks leading up to spring training. But the Cubs are targeting the end of next week for Assad to resume throwing bullpens. That’s about a week and a half before the Tokyo Series and three weeks before the domestic opener.