Chicago Cubs offer intriguing update on Justin Steele

The Chicago Cubs have been besieged by pitching injuries all season. In a lot of ways, it’s a minor miracle that the team didn’t just fold and give everyone a great big “wait ‘til next year.”

Aside from losing emerging ace Cade Horton for the season after just two starts, the team has also suffered through two IL stints apiece from Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, and closer Daniel Palencia while watching injury shut down the seasons of breakthrough asset Ben Brown, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin, and, at least indirectly, Hoby Milner.

Then, of course, you have to throw in the non-comeback of Justin Steele.

The 31-year-old, who had become Chicago’s ace and one of the most reliable starting pitchers in all of baseball, underwent elbow surgery in April of last year and was actually ahead of schedule with his rehab as the 2026 season began. There was some serious talk that the southpaw could be back at his rotation gig as early as late-May or mid-June.

But then Steele suffered a left elbow flexor strain in April, which saw him get shut down for an entire month. When he was allowed to pick up a ball again, the team was very cautious and deliberate with what he was allowed to do.

He’s now, however, three outings into a rehab assignment in Iowa and the unavoidable “when will he come back” talk has been flying.

The Cubs have already killed off any idea of Steele returning to the rotation this year, but they’ve left open the possibility of a bullpen role. And despite a 6.35 ERA through 5.2 innings in Triple-A, his return is a really appealing option for a bullpen that has given off a bad, near-collapse, vibe at various points in the late-season.

A Justin Steele update