According to Montemurro on X, the similar move for Steele will be the recall of right-hander Jack Neely.
Left-hander Justin Steele will go on the 15-day disabled list, the Cubs informed reporters. His problem, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times on X, is left elbow flexor tendonitis. The corresponding action is still unknown.
Due to minor elbow pain, Steele was scratched from Monday’s game despite being scheduled to start. After assessing the situation for a few days, the Cubs appear to have concluded that Steele will require some time off.
Manager Craig Counsell informs Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune (X link) that, contingent upon events over the course of the next ten days, Steele may return following a minimum term. Counsell states, “If we can get him back to normal, he’s going to pitch.” Steele’s IL placement will most likely be retroactive by the maximum three days. That implies that, if all goes according to plan, he might return in 12 days.
It will become clear over time whether or not it is a reasonable expectation. In either case, the Cubs suffer a short-term setback. With four games remaining in September, the team is still in the running for a postseason berth. With 477 1/3 innings pitched thus far, the lefty’s earned run average stands at 3.24. A 3.09 ERA, 24.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate, and 48.4% ground ball rate are all included in 128 innings this year.
A club with limited margin for error will suffer from losing a performer of that caliber. The team may still use a five-man rotation without Steele because Jordan Wicks was recently added back to the active roster a few days ago. Wicks would be positioned behind Kyle Hendricks, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Javier Assad. Hendricks, who was moved to the bullpen earlier in the season and now has an overall ERA of 6.60, has had a difficult season. If Wicks had returned, he might have been moved back into a supporting role, but with Steele out of the picture, that may not be feasible.
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