Justin Steele

Fantasy News

• Cubs' Justin Steele: Heads to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2026

  The Cubs placed Steele (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday. Steele is progressing as anticipated after undergoing UCL revision surgery back on April 18, 2025, but he'll still need at least the first two months of the 2026 season to complete the lengthy recovery process. The southpaw checked off a major box in his rehab program by facing live hitters in batting practice sessions just under two weeks ago. He'll likely continue to gradually increase the volume and intensity of his pitching in live BP sessions and simulated games over at least the next few weeks before eventually embarking on an extended minor-league rehab assignment.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Faces live hitters Friday

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2026

  Steele (elbow) faced live hitters Friday for the first time in 11 months as he continues his recovery from UCL revision surgery last April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Steele only threw 19 pitches, but it was still an important milestone in his long road back following surgery. The lefty has been ramping up his throwing during the winter and early spring, and he's tentatively targeting a May or June return to the majors. Steele was fairly sharp in his session Friday, recording three strikeouts and two flyball outs, and he said he felt good afterward. The team will surely be cautious with the southpaw, though it looks like he'll be able to help the rotation at some point this year.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Resumes mound work

  Rotowire Jan 26, 2026

  Steele (elbow) threw off a mound Jan. 16 for the first time since undergoing UCL revision surgery April 18, MLB.com reports. Throwing off a mound represents an important milestone in the recovery process for Steele, who had been limited to playing catch off flat ground since resuming a throwing program in October. He'll likely continue to build up the intensity and frequency of his bullpen sessions over the next few weeks, but Steele probably won't be ready to face hitters until the latter half of spring training. The 30-year-old lefty will almost certainly open the season on the injured list, but if he steers clear of any setbacks while building up this spring, he could avoid placement on the 60-day IL and make his 2026 debut at some point in late April or May.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Late start to season confirmed

  Rotowire Dec 11, 2025

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed this week that Steele (elbow) will not be ready for the start of next season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report. Steele underwent UCL revision surgery on his left elbow in mid-April, so it's not a surprise that he'll be in line for a stint on the injured list to begin the 2026 season. Counsell noted that the team will have a better idea as to a timetable for the left-hander in spring training, with the skipper noting that "I think it will be the first half of the season." Steele has collected a 3.18 ERA over 82 regular-season starts since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Begins throwing program

  Rotowire Oct 20, 2025

  Steele (elbow) began a throwing program Monday, the pitcher posted from his X account. The left-hander was cleared to throw on flat ground for the first time since undergoing UCL revision surgery in April. A firm timetable for Steele's readiness to pitch in games isn't clear, but he's likely to get a late start to next season. The left-hander boasts a 3.18 ERA and 458:128 K:BB over 449.2 innings since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Shifts to 60-day injured list

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2025

  The Cubs transferred Steele (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. Steele underwent UCL surgery last week and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season, so the move won't affect his timeline for a return. The transaction will instead open up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Undergoes UCL surgery Friday

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2025

  Steele underwent UCL revision repair operation on his left elbow Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Steele was placed on the 15-day injured list April 9 with what was initially diagnosed as left elbow tendinitis, but further tests revealed significant UCL damage that required season-ending surgery. He was able to avoid Tommy John surgery, but he will sit for the rest of 2025 and will likely miss the early portion of the 2026 regular season. With Steele sidelined, Ben Brown and Colin Rea will continue to serve in the Cubs' rotation, though one of them will be bumped when Javier Assad (oblique) returns from the IL.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Seeking second opinion

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2025

  Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Steele will get a second opinion on his left elbow, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. Steele has now dealt with tendinitis in his left elbow in back-to-back seasons, and Counsell said the team wants to determine if his recent problems are the result of a larger issue, per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. The 29-year-old southpaw recently said he only expects to be on the injured list for the minimum 15 days, though that may change based on the results of his upcoming doctor's visit.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Aiming for minimum IL stay

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2025

  Steele (elbow) believes he will require only a minimum 15-day stay on the injured list, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Steele felt discomfort in his left elbow during the middle of Monday's start against the Rangers, but he remained in the game and threw a couple more scoreless innings, finishing the night with eight strikeouts over seven scoreless frames. However, he felt sore Tuesday and was placed on the IL on Wednesday with what the Cubs are calling left elbow tendinitis. Steele was on the IL last September with the same injury and missed three weeks of action that time. While it's encouraging that Steele believes he will make a quick return, the Cubs will have the ultimate say, and it's too soon to know how much time the southpaw will ultimately miss.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Goes on IL with elbow tendinitis

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2025

  The Cubs placed Steele on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left elbow tendinitis, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Steele didn't show any indication of being hurt in his last outing, striking out eight over seven scoreless innings against the Rangers on Monday. However, he will now been shelved for at least next next couple weeks. Steele missed three weeks of action last September with the same injury, which is a bit worrisome. Colin Rea is an option to take Steele's spot in the rotation.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Slated for domestic opener

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2025

  Steele will start the Cubs' domestic opener March 27 in Arizona, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. Steele started the second game of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers this week -- allowing five runs over four innings -- and will get the first turn back home. He will be followed by Jameson Taillon against the Diamondbacks.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Tagged for five runs in Tokyo

  Rotowire Mar 19, 2025

  Steele (0-1) took the loss against the Dodgers in Tokyo on Wednesday after he surrendered five runs on five hits and one walk across four innings. He struck out five. Steele struggled to a 9.35 ERA in three spring appearances, and those troubles carried over to his 2025 debut. The left-hander had a 0.7 HR/9 in the previous three seasons, but he was taken deep Wednesday by Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernandez. Steele built up to 67 pitches and could face some minor workload limitations for his first couple starts stateside as he continues to build up his arm.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Struggles in spring finale

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2025

  Steele (illness) allowed seven runs on 10 hits across 3.2 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers. He struck out three. After being scratched from his scheduled start last week due to flu-like symptoms, Steele got bumped back to Tuesday and struggled with the extra time off, allowing three home runs in the short outing. The lefty finishes the spring with a rough 9.35 ERA across three appearances. Despite the poor showing in the Cactus League, Steele is slated to start the Cubs' second game of the regular season March 19 against the Dodgers in Tokyo.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Starting Tuesday's game

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2025

  Steele (illness) will start Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers. Steele was scratched from his previous scheduled start last Thursday against the Royals after experiencing flu-like symptoms, but he resumed throwing over the weekend without issue and won't be forced to miss any further turns through the spring rotation. Tuesday's outing will mark Steele's final start of spring training before he makes his 2025 debut during the Cubs' second game of the season March 19 versus the Dodgers in Tokyo.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Sharp in spring debut

  Rotowire Feb 23, 2025

  Steele tossed two scoreless innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. He allowed two hits and struck out five. In his first action of the spring, Steele already appeared to be in midseason form. The lefty was limited to only 24 starts last year due to hamstring and forearm injuries, but he was effective when healthy, compiling a 3.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 135:37 K:BB across 134.2 innings. Steele figures to slot in behind Shota Imanaga in Chicago's rotation this season, giving the Cubs an imposing 1-2 punch, and both are attractive options for fantasy managers.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Rejoining rotation Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that Steele (elbow) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Athletics, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports. The left-hander landed on the shelf after experiencing elbow tendinitis following his last start Aug. 27 in Pittsburgh, and he'll be back with the Cubs for the final week and a half of the campaign. If Chicago sticks to a five-man rotation, Steele tentatively lines up for three starts before the end of the regular season. The 29-year-old has a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 131:34 K:BB across 128 innings this season.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Could return from IL soon

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2024

  Steele (elbow) told reporters after his bullpen session Saturday that he expects to be activated off the 15-day injured list during the Cubs' upcoming homestand, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. Steele landed on the 15-day injured list Sept. 4 due to left elbow tendinitis. He threw a couple of bullpen sessions after some rest, and the 29-year-old southpaw appears to be nearing a return without the need for a rehab assignment. The earliest Steele can be activated off the IL is Sept. 18, which would be the series finale against the Athletics, though the Cubs could wait until the following series against the Nationals to activate Steele. He has a 5-5 record over 22 starts this season with a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 131:34 K:BB across 128 innings.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Bullpen coming soon

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2024

  The Cubs are hopeful Steele will be cleared to throw a bullpen session at some point during the current road trip, which runs until Sunday in Colorado, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Steele hasn't experienced any issues while playing catch, so the next step will be for the southpaw to resume throwing off a mound. He'll likely be asked to complete a side session or two before getting the green light to face live hitters.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Lands on injured list

  Rotowire Sep 4, 2024

  The Cubs placed Steele on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left elbow tendinitis, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Steele had to be scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday due to inflammation in his elbow, and he'll now officially sit out for another few turns through the rotation following his latest diagnosis. Kyle Hendricks started in Steele's place against the Pirates and figures to serve as Chicago's fifth starter while the left-hander is sidelined.

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• Cubs' Justin Steele: Dominates Tigers

  Rotowire Aug 23, 2024

  Steele (4-5) picked up the win Thursday against Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks across seven innings. He struck out 10. Steele blanked the Tigers on two hits across the first six innings before allowing a single to Colt Keith and a two-run homer to Spencer Torkelson back-to-back in the seventh. The left-handed Steele reached double-digit strikeouts for the first time this season. In 21 starts, Steele has a 3.07 ERA and a 125:32 K:BB across 123 innings. Steele is on track to face the Pirates in Pittsburgh for his next start.

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