Spring Training still has over a week of action left, but regular season baseball is inching closer and closer by the day. On Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs welcomed the Milwaukee Brewers to Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. Although it was just a Spring Training contest, it was an electric game for both sides.
The Cubs walked the game off with a Patrick Wisdom home run to left field. The 6-5 win over the Brewers was arguably one of the most-exciting games of the slate.
Despite the great game, one player really stood out. Justin Steele, the Cubs' confirmed Opening Day starter, shoved in his 4.0 innings of work. Steele fanned nine batters, did not allow any free passes, and only gave up two earned runs on four hits. It's safe to say that Steele is dialed in with the regular season approaching.
In three Spring Training starts, Steele has pitched 10.0 innings, accumulating a 5.40 ERA. Steele has been tagged for two earned runs in every single one of his starts. However, with these games only serving as ramp-ups for the regular season, there is not a lot of concern with his ERA. That said, his 13 strikeouts compared to just two walks looks really nice on paper.
Last season, Steele made his first All-Star appearance, was firmly in the NL Cy Young picture for most of the season, and set new career highs in starts (30), innings (173.1), ERA (3.06), strikeouts (176), and wins (16). Although 2023 was a massive success, Steele is surely looking to build on the success. In 2023, Steele is looking to get to the 180-inning mark, as he told Cubs On Tap. He wants to consistently be a six-inning workhorse for 30+ starts.
The Cubs are back in action on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. CDT against the Cleveland Guardians. Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the Cubs.
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