Steele vows to return this season after being placed on IL

CHICAGO -- Standing at his locker on Tuesday afternoon, when the Cubs were still weighing whether to place Justin Steele on the injured list as the team clings to the fringe of the playoff race, the lefty did not hesitate when asked if he thought he would pitch again this season.

“Yeah, I do,” Steele said firmly.

It will have to be a comeback scenario for Steele, who was officially placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Monday) prior to Wednesday’s game against the Pirates due to left flexor tendinitis in his left elbow. With Steele still experiencing symptoms on Wednesday, the Cubs opted to take no chances with the leader of their rotation.

Steele was scratched from his planned start on Tuesday due to elbow soreness and indicated that he hoped to play light catch on Wednesday. That plan was scrapped when Steele was still dealing with discomfort a day later, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the hope now would be to resume throwing by Friday at the earliest.

“We were kind of debating whether we thought [skipping one] start was a possibility,” Counsell said. “After 24 additional hours, we just don’t think that’s a good idea. So, we put him on the IL and we’re hopeful -- and Justin’s hopeful -- that if he feels better rather quickly here, that we can make this be a minimal stay. That’s the hope right now, and the goal right now.”

Steele last pitched on Aug. 27 in Pittsburgh, and then threw a bullpen session during the Cubs’ recent trip to Washington, D.C. During that workout, Steele -- who admitted he has pitched through the issue for an unspecified amount of time -- said Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy could tell the lefty was not at full strength.

At that point, Steele agreed that it was best to get an MRI exam to rule out anything serious. Both Counsell and Steele noted that the initial results were positive, showing inflammation, but no structural damage. The manager said on Wednesday that the team was still in the process of gathering additional opinions on the tests.

“We got good news yesterday, I think,” Counsell said of Tuesday’s imaging. “We’re going to miss him for a couple starts, for sure, but we got good news. We don’t think it’s anything serious, and we’ll treat it for a couple days and hope to begin throwing again.”

Steele pitched brilliantly in August, going 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA and 33 strikeouts against seven walks in 26 2/3 innings (five starts). For the season, the lefty has a 3.09 ERA with 131 strikeouts and 34 walks in 128 innings (22 outings), which has been a solid follow-up to his All-Star and Cy Young-contending showing in ‘23 (3.06 ERA with 176 strikeouts and 36 walks in 173 1/3 innings).

While Steele is out, the Cubs will lean on a rotation of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Kyle Hendricks and Jordan Wicks. Hendricks stepped in for Steele on Tuesday and turned in five strong innings, while Wicks recently returned from the IL. Righty Hayden Wesneski is on the IL and set to begin a rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa, but Counsell said there is not enough time left to stretch him out as a starter.

“Look, we have five guys that are in the rotation right now. They’ll stay in the rotation,” Counsell said.

The Cubs are hoping to stay in the October hunt and have Steele back for the final push.

“Justin’s going to pitch if he’s healthy. That’s kind of how we’re progressing right now,” Counsell said. “That’s what Justin’s interested in. He’s not going to pitch if he’s not healthy. That’s how it’s going to work. We’ll see what the next 10 days bring. I think the next 10 days will be important here.”