Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to come off the injured list and take the mound against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Steele has been out since late August due to elbow tendinitis. This is a welcoming sight for the Cubs who aren't quite eliminated from playoff contention yet. The return of Steele will push the rest of the starters back a day, according to manager Craig Counsell. Steele holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 131/34 K/BB ratio this season. He'll be a favorable fantasy option for his first start back on the mound.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and will throw another bullpen this weekend at Coors Field in Denver. "This is a true day-to-day thing and so we had a really good day today. This is like five days of straight good news, which is encouraging," manager Craig Counsell said. It was the first time that Steele threw off a mound since landing on the 15-day injured list a week ago with left-elbow issues. The 29-year-old southpaw will need to get through another bullpen before then facing live hitters. Barring a setback, Steele should be able to return to Chicago's rotation before the end of the year to help fantasy managers that are still playing for a championship. When healthy in 2024, Steele has been relevant in all fantasy leagues, going 5-5 with a 3.09 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a career-best 24.9% strikeout rate in 22 starts (128 innings).
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander Justin Steele's (elbow) catch play has gone well of late and that a bullpen session is next, and it could happen "on this road trip." The Cubs' current road trip ends this Sunday at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. If the 29-year-old southpaw can get through a successful bullpen session this week, he could move to a simulated game or live bullpen session next. Steele is currently on the 15-day injured list due to left-elbow inflammation, but barring a setback, he should be able to return at the end of the month of September for a start or two to close out the year. Steele, a first-time All-Star in 2023, has been similarly as good in 2024 despite spending some time on the IL due to injuries. He has an ERA just over 3.00 with a career-high 24.9% strikeout rate as a trusted weapon at the top of Chicago's starting rotation.
Justin Steele Hits 15-Day Injured List With Elbow Tendinitis
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) was placed on the 15-day IL earlier on Wednesday evening with left elbow tendinitis. The 29-year-old ace was initially scratched from his start on Tuesday evening due to reported inflammation but will now sit out for at least the next two weeks. Currently, there is no specific timetable for his return, but fantasy managers could expect him back sometime before the end of the regular season if he progresses well. On Tuesday, the Cubs turned to veteran Kyle Hendricks to fill in for Steele and, as a result, should be considered the front-runner to claim his rotation spot for the time being. Steele has enjoyed another strong campaign and has held a 3.09 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP after finishing near the top in NL Cy Young voting last summer. Deeper league managers looking to replace Steele should only consider streaming Hendricks in favorable matchups as he has struggled quite often this summer, sitting with a career-worst 6.60 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) said an MRI exam on his left elbow was positive and showed only inflammation, which he has been feeling for a while. No decision has been made yet as to whether Steele will go on the 15-day injured list, and the team is taking it day by day. The Cubs scratched the 29-year-old southpaw from his scheduled start against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, but there's a chance he could avoid the IL and make his next start after a little rest. If Steele does land on the IL, veteran Kyle Hendricks, who made the start on Tuesday, could take his spot in the starting rotation. Despite not being 100% for a while, Steele hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start since July 30 and has gone 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA and .200 batting average against with 33 strikeouts and seven walks in his last five starts since Aug. 5.
Justin Steele Scratched From Tuesday's Start With Elbow Soreness
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the team's 5-3 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday that left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) is experiencing some elbow soreness and won't make his scheduled start at Wrigley Field on Tuesday against the Bucs. Veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks will make the spot start instead. It's unclear exactly how serious Steele's elbow injury is right now, but he'll likely go for testing. If it's serious enough to put the 29-year-old on the 15-day injured list, Steele will be unlikely to pitch again in 2024, especially with the Cubbies unlikely to make the postseason. The former fifth-round pick in 2014 was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and has been solid yet again for fantasy managers in his fourth year in the big leagues, going 5-5 with a 3.09 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and a 131:34 K:BB in 128 innings over his 22 starts. Check back later for more info on Steele's injury.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele had one of his best starts of the season on Thursday, pitching seven two-run innings while fanning a season-high 10 in a 10-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. The lefty allowed only four hits and didn't walk a batter. Steele had his fastball working especially well in this one, generating 14 whiffs and 28 CSW on the pitch. The 29-year-old had a tough start to his season, but since June he has looked like the 2023 version of himself. He should be regarded as a must-start pitcher the rest of the way.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele tossed six innings of one-run ball (zero earned) in a no-decision on Saturday evening. He allowed six hits and two free passes while striking out eight. The lone run was scored in the second inning of a Brooks Baldwin single as Miguel Vargas reached via a fielding error. This was a nice bounce back for the southpaw as he carried a high 5.82 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and an 11:23 BB:K ratio across his previous four starts entering Saturday. Overall, the 29-year-old has held a solid 3.16 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP through 114 frames of work this season. Under the hood, he sports a 2.97 xERA, which suggests he should continue to enjoy a strong second half.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele will get the nod to start the first game out of the All-Star break in Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. After being named a first-time All-Star in 2023, Steele has delivered an outstanding 2.71 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 18 walks over 86 1/3 innings (14 starts) for the Cubs in 2024. Although the 29-year-old left-hander coughed up six runs in his last appearance against the D-backs in September of last season, he still has a strong 3.00 ERA and 30:6 K:BB across 24 frames (four starts) against Arizona in his career. Steele belongs in all season-long fantasy lineups on Friday to kick off the second half in the Windy City.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele was excellent on Thursday, throwing seven shutout frames against the Baltimore Orioles in an 8-0 win. Steele allowed just three hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out four. Even though the punchouts aren't always there for the lefty, he manages to limit hard contact and prevent runs at an elite level. After a tough start to the season where he was seemingly still finding his form after an injury, Steele has seen his ERA dip from 5.68 on May 22 all the way down to its current 2.71. He is proving that last year wasn't a fluke and rewarding fantasy managers who believed in his 2023 season with another brilliant campaign.
Justin Steele
• SP
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Cubs
