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.

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.

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.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele threw his first career complete game on Friday afternoon in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Steele struck out seven and allowed just one run on two hits, improving his record to 1-3. The lefty has now recorded six straight quality starts and has lowered his ERA to 2.95 on the season. After missing all of April dealing with a hamstring issue, Steele has become one of the more reliable arms in the Cubs' rotation. He'll get one more start before the All-Star break and that start is currently scheduled for next Thursday in Baltimore against the Orioles. It will be a tough test given Baltimore's track record against lefties in 2024 and fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Steele that night.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele struck out nine over 7 1/3 innings during Monday's 5-4 loss at the San Francisco Giants. Steele finished with a no-decision as he allowed two earned runs on solo homers from Matt Chapman and Nick Ahmed among the six hits he yielded while walking one in his 108-pitch effort. He has been dominant in June, sporting a 1.69 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 32 innings with six earned runs among the 12 runs he's allowed despite an (0-1) record. Steele now has a 3.08 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 64 innings but has yet to pick up his first win of the season. He will make his next start on Saturday at the Milwaukee Brewers and should be started in all leagues while he's pitching well recently.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele put together his most complete start of the year in Monday's loss to the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, throwing a season-high seven innings of scoreless ball on three hits and one walk to go with a season-best eight strikeouts for a tough-luck no-decision. The three hits also marked a season-low figure for Steele, who hadn't tossed at least five scoreless innings in any of his prior five starts to Monday's strong outing. The 28-year-old southpaw has endured a trying year due to injury as well as poor results on the field overall, but his 31:7 K:BB over 32 1/3 innings should instill some optimism that a turnaround is on the horizon despite a lackluster 4.45 ERA. Steele next lines up to take the ball at home on Saturday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, a team he's struggled against to the tune of a ghastly 8.64 ERA over 16 2/3 frames since 2022.

Updating a previous report, Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) will come off the injured list and start on Monday at Wrigley Field against the visiting San Diego Padres, assuming his bullpen session on Saturday goes well. Steele made just one minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and gave up three runs on six hits in just 3 1/3 innings while throwing 63 pitches, so the 28-year-old southpaw will almost certainly be on a lowered pitch count in his return on Monday. Steele isn't dealing with an arm injury, but he'll be a pretty risky fantasy starter on Monday against the Friars regardless. Monday's start will be his first since he injured his hamstring on Opening Day on March 28.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Saturday in Chicago and will be re-evaluated from there. Manager Craig Counsell said that Steele had a successful minor-league rehab outing for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday despite giving up three runs on six hits in just 3 1/3 innings pitched. He appears to be progressing well, and there's a chance he's activated from the injured list if everything goes well with his bullpen session this weekend. However, the fact that the 28-year-old southpaw didn't even go four full innings in his last rehab start would suggest that he'll need to make at least one more start in the minors before returning to Chicago's rotation. Regardless, Steele needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues after breaking out in 2023.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that everything went well with left-hander Justin Steele's (hamstring) minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Iowa. He will work out with Iowa on Thursday and then meet the Cubs in Chicago on Friday. However, there is nothing official on when Steele's next start will be. It's definitely possible that the 28-year-old southpaw could come off the injured list this weekend and make his next start with the Cubbies after injuring his hamstring in his Opening Day start on March 28 against the Texas Rangers, when he allowed three hits and an earned run while walking one and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings of work. After a breakout 16-win season for Chicago in 2023, Steele belongs on all fantasy rosters.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) might only need one rehab start, according to manager Craig Counsell. The left-hander has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury on Opening Day. Steele is set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. It sounds like the left-hander could be back in the Cubs rotation at some point next week. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see how the rehab start goes before making any moves. Regardless, it doesn't sound like Steele is going to miss much more time.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is moving on to the next step of his rehab and is likely to pitch for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, according to skipper Craig Counsell. The 28-year-old tossed 47 pitches in an extended spring game in Arizona on Friday and has seemingly come out of the outing feeling fine. The southpaw tossed 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers but suffered a hamstring strain that has cost him significant time. Steele was in Cy Young contention for much of the 2023 season before struggling late in the year but still posted a 3.06 ERA and a 19.6% K-BB% on the back of an elite 5% BB% across 30 starts a season ago.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) threw 47 pitches in 2 1/3 innings in an extended spring game on Friday in Arizona. Steele will continue his rehab program there for now, but pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said on Thursday that the hurler should be able to start shifting into a five-day routine following his recent period of building up his workload. The 28-year-old star left-hander is recuperating from a strained left hamstring, and while it's unclear how long his rehab stint will last, Steele might be able to get back into Chicago's rotation in early May if all continues to go well in his recovery. Rookie right-hander Ben Brown has shown some promise with a 3.72 ERA (2.88 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB over 19 1/3 innings (six appearances) for the Cubs, and he'll be a decent streaming option for fantasy managers in Saturday's scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) went through some fielding practice on Tuesday before the team's game against the visiting Houston Astros. Steele suffered his strained left hamstring while fielding a ball on Opening Day before landing on the injured list, so the Cubs want to make sure he's good before he throws in an extended spring training game this Friday. The 28-year-old will return to a spot in Chicago's rotation, but he's going to need at least a short minor-league rehab assignment before that happens. Steele is worth stashing in an injured-list spot in most fantasy leagues after going 16-5 with a career-best 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings in 30 starts for the Cubbies in 2023.