Cubs roster move: Javier Assad recalled, Ethan Roberts optioned

The Cubs recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday to bolster the major-league roster. To make room, right-hander Ethan Roberts was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, clearing space on the 26-man roster. Assad has appeared eight times for Chicago this year, including three starts, and owns a 5.88 ERA and 1.269 WHIP. In Iowa, he has a 7.88 ERA across five starts, with a brief six-pitch outing on June 3 noted. Roberts has a 1.96 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in 14 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. The club may be seeking longer outings from Assad, as his skill set allows multiple innings.