Justin Steele's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.