As the Cubs figure out the innings puzzle for the last five weeks of the regular season, right-hander Javier Assad is expected to play an important role. But the team optioned him Saturday to Triple-A Iowa after his best start of the season and recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning and Kyle Tucker also went deep, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday.

The star outfielder -- who was in the midst of the NL MVP race at the beginning of the year -- has seen his performance crater during the latter stages of the summer, prompting some in the Wrigley Field faithful to shockingly boo him.