4 days agoThe Chicago Cubs have placed left-handed pitcher
Justin Steele (elbow) on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow tendinitis. In a corresponding move, the Cubs promoted right-handed pitcher
Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa. Steele enjoyed his best outing of the season on Monday evening against the Texas Rangers and did not show any signs of an injury. In this outing, the southpaw tossed seven shutout innings. He struck out eight and allowed just three hits and two walks. In his first three starts, Steele held a modest 6.89 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP across 15 2/3 innings of work. With Steele sidelined, fantasy managers should expect either
Colin Rea or
Brad Keller to shift from the bullpen into a starting role. In addition, top pitching prospect
Cade Horton could also be in the mix if Steele has an extended absence. Rea and Keller would only be worth targeting in NL-only formats if they join the rotation.
UPDATE: Steele thinks he'll spend the minimum time on the IL, for what it's worth.--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Levine
6 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele looked like his old self for the first time this season in Monday's 7-0 win over the Rangers. Steele carved through a tough lineup, allowing three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings pitched. The 29-year-old is now 3-1, but he brought a 6.89 ERA into Monday's start. That has now been cut to 4.76 to go with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 22 2/3 IP. Steele seems to have suffered from some bad luck to start the season, as his 1.99 HR/9 rate is much higher than his career 0.92 mark. Monday's start was his deepest of the season and his first in which he did not allow a home run, so hopefully things can start trending in the right direction for him. Unfortunately, that may be difficult in his next start, which will be at the Dodgers. Steele is a higher-end fantasy starter and did look much better, but fantasy managers may consider sitting him in his next start, given his overall slow start and how he fared against the Dodgers in his first start.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoChicago Cubs left-hander
Justin Steele (illness) will make the Cactus League start on Tuesday versus the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. Flu-like symptoms caused Steele to be scratched from his last scheduled spring start last Thursday, but the 29-year-old southpaw is feeling better now. After Tuesday's Cactus League outing, Steele's next start will come on March 19 in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the season-opening two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Coming into Tuesday's start, he has allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning seven in five innings in his two spring training starts. Steele is a fine target as a No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher in season-long leagues, but he won't be a popular DFS target on March 19 against the defending World Series champions.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoChicago Cubs left-hander
Justin Steele (illness) was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals due to flu-like symptoms. Right-hander
Ben Brown, who is competing for a spot in the Opening Day starting rotation, will replace Steele. It's not a big deal for Steele, and he should be ready to make his third start of the spring in a couple more days. In his first two Cactus League appearances, the 29-year-old southpaw has allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out seven in five innings pitched. Steele broke out in 2023 but got off on the wrong foot last year due to a hamstring strain that caused him to miss a month. He also had a forearm injury late in the year. Steele's fantasy upside is limited because of his lack of strikeout stuff, but his fastball-slider combination generate plenty of weak contact. Consider him a solid target as a No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Maddie Lee
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