According to the Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Cubs ace Justin Steele will be placed on the 15-day IL. Steele has a grade 1 left hamstring strain. Counsell added that Justin Steele could miss the entire month of April. This is a huge loss to a team who's trying to make the playoffs, especially this early in the 2024 season.
Justin Steele has made a lot of strides at the major league level. Last year, Steele was an All-Star for the first time in his entire career. Justin Steele pitched in 30 games last season, he had a 16-5 record, 3.06 ERA, 176 K's, and a 1.171 WHIP.
The Cubs Opening Day was on Thursday the 28th against the Texas Rangers. Justin Steele was the starter. He was cruising, until he unfortunately got injured. He was through 4.2 IP, just 1 ER, and 6 K's. It looked like Steele's 2024 season was going to be off to another good start.
The Chicago Cubs most definitely have a chance to make the playoffs. Although, the news of Justin Steele potentially missing a month is awful. The Cubs are going to need their other starting pitchers to step up in a big way while Justin Steele is out.