Terry Francona impressed by Cubs NL ERA leader Justin Steele

This weekend features a rematch of the 2016 World Series — the Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago Cubs. 

Both teams have new faces and new aces, and what the Guardians experienced on Friday from Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele was not to their liking. Steele stifled the Guardians, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and one walk. 

After the 10-1 loss to the Cubs, Guardians manager Terry Francona gave Steele the credit he deserved.

"I thought he was as advertised," Francona said. "His fastball's got really good life, he can cut it."

Steele's ERA of 2.42 is currently the best in the National League and ranks No. 2 in the majors behind Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan at 2.23. When All-Star Game pitchers are announced on Sunday, Steele will likely hear his name called. Not only that, Steele could become the Cubs' first All-Star starting pitcher since Jon Lester in 2018. 

“It’s crossed my mind. It'd be quite the honor," Steele said, per MLB.com. "It'd be really cool, another notch on the belt. I just take pride in showing up each and every day when the ball is handed to me and just giving my team the best chance to win the game that day.”

Cubs manager David Ross says Steele has "turned into an ace", outfielder Ian Happ noted Steele's been "fantastic all year" and "one of the best pitchers in the National League."

The stats back up the assertions of Ross and Happ. Steele has a 1.99 ERA since July 22, 2022, which is the lowest ERA in the majors among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched. 

Ross, who called Steele "a horse", feels like it's "Win Day" when he takes the bump. The Cubs' chances are greater with Steele on the mound, the lefty is 9-2 in 15 starts. Whether the Cubs, who are five games back in the NL Central, make the playoffs remains to be seen, Steele deserves a chance to pitch on a big stage in the All-Star Game. If statistics are the main criteria for who starts, Steele has as good of a chance as anyone in the NL to be named the starter.