Ethan Roberts' 1.96 ERA Wasn't Enough, and Cubs Fans Should Be Furious

Alright, Seattle fam, grab your coffee and let's talk some MLB drama, even if it ain't our boys in blue. The Chicago Cubs just pulled a head-scratcher that's got everyone outside the Emerald City scratching their heads. Yesterday, they recalled right-hander Javier Assad to their major league roster and, in a move that's got to sting, optioned right-hander Ethan Roberts to Triple-A Iowa. Seriously, you gotta see the numbers on this one because it's wild.

The Call That Makes Zero Sense

You read that right: Ethan Roberts, a relief pitcher, had a scorching 1.96 ERA over 14 appearances this season. Think about that for a second. In parts of four major league seasons, all with the Cubs, Roberts holds a 2-3 record with a 4.09 ERA across 54 relief appearances. He was out there getting the job done, keeping runs off the board, and what happens? He gets sent down to Iowa. Yeah, he gave up a run over 1 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, but one outing shouldn't erase a 1.96 ERA, should it? Cubs fans have to be looking at this move like, "Are you kidding me right now?" It's the kind of decision that leaves you wondering what's truly happening behind the scenes.

Assad's Roller Coaster Return

So, who's coming up to replace Roberts? That would be Javier Assad, also 28, and his journey this season has been a bit more...turbulent. Assad has made eight appearances for the Cubs this season, including three starts, and he's got a 3-1 record with a 5.88 ERA. Not exactly lights-out, right? The guy was actually optioned to Iowa back on May 17 with the idea of stretching him out to be a regular starter. He'd already made two starts at Iowa earlier this season, got called up, and then made three more starts in his most recent Triple-A stint, logging a 6.00 ERA over nine innings. He even just pitched one inning against Toledo on Wednesday before this recall. For his entire major league career, all five seasons with the Cubs, Assad holds a 21-13 record with a 3.61 ERA over 86 appearances and 57 starts. He made 29 starts in 2024, going 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA. It's a head-scratcher when you replace a guy with a 1.96 ERA with someone carrying a 5.88 ERA this season. It’s just another reminder that no matter what the numbers say, sometimes teams make moves that leave you scratching your head. While other teams are out there trying to figure out their pitching rotations, our Mariners are out there doing work. We just saw our M's shut down the Detroit Tigers yesterday with a 4-0 final score. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez are out there doing their thing, and that's the kind of consistent play we love to see in the Emerald City!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.