The Cubs transferred Assad (oblique) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Chris Flexen, whose contract was selected Wednesday. Assad suffered a setback with his left oblique last week and will be shut down for a while.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Assad has been shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad re-injured his oblique during a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Iowa. It's not clear how long the right-hander will remain shut down, but Counsell intimated that Assad will have to start building up from scratch once he's cleared to resume a throwing program. It's a significant setback for Assad, who will likely remain sidelined until at least June.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday that Assad had a setback with his left oblique during Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.

Assad (oblique) left before the start of the fifth inning in Tuesday's game with Triple-A Iowa, Jason Kempf of the Iowa Cubs' broadcast team reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad, who started the season on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain, was warming up for the fifth inning before grabbing at his side. He immediately went to the dugout, and the team should have an update on the 27-year-old right-hander once he is thoroughly evaluated by trainers.

Assad (oblique) struck out four and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk over 3.1 innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Iowa.

EDGE Analysis

Assad has been on the shelf all season after suffering a left oblique strain early in spring training, but he's now reached the final phase of his recovery process. He tossed 66 pitches in Tuesday's outing and is expected to increase his workload in another start with Iowa on Sunday. If all goes well in his second rehab appearance, Assad could return from the 15-day injured list as soon as next weekend. It's not clear if Assad would immediately supplant Ben Brown or Colin Rea for a spot at the back end of the Chicago rotation once he's activated.

Assad (oblique) will make his first rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad has been pitching in extended spring training games since the start of the season, though Tuesday will mark the first time he's pitched at a minor-league affiliate since landing on the IL with an oblique strain. He'll likely require multiple additional rehab outings, but he shouldn't be more than a few weeks away from returning to Chicago.

Assad (oblique) will throw two innings in an extended spring training game Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

He's expected to make an additional appearance in extended spring training after that before heading out on a formal rehab assignment. That would seem to point to Assad being at least a couple weeks away from rejoining the Cubs. Ben Brown is currently holding down the No. 5 spot in Chicago's rotation.

Assad (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad is working his way back from a mild left oblique strain suffered early on in camp. Assad has been throwing in camp, so he could return in early April.

Assad (oblique) will begin the season on the injured list, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad is aiming to resume throwing off a mound sometime next week, but the Cubs have determined that he won't have enough time to work his way back before the beginning of the season. With Assad now out of the running, Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown will spend the rest of camp competing for the fifth spot in Chicago's Opening Day rotation.

Assad (oblique) could throw off a mound this week, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season is possible, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assad is working his way back from a mild left oblique strain suffered early on in camp. He could have enough time to ramp up for Opening Day if he does indeed get back on a mound this week, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season has not been ruled out. Assad came into camp as the presumed favorite to serve as the Cubs' fifth starter, but if he's not ready, Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown would compete to fill in.