Justin Steele stepped on a mound and threw a baseball on Monday for the first time in a month. That’s it. That’s the news. And for a Cubs team that’s clinging to a wild card spot by their fingernails, that counts as a win.
The left-hander had been shut down back in May with a flexor strain, another frustrating detour in what’s been a long recovery from elbow surgery. Steele had that surgery 14 months ago to repair flexor tendon and UCL damage. The fact that he’s throwing again doesn’t mean he’s close. But it does mean he’s not further away than he was.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the update on X. The Cubs, predictably, aren’t offering any timelines. They’re hoping for a second-half return. Hope is the operative word there.
Where the Cubs are at right now
Chicago sits at 40-37 as of Monday. That’s good for third in the NL Central, seven games behind the Brewers and two behind the Cardinals. The wild card picture is even tighter. The Cubs currently hold the third spot, but they’re only a half-game ahead of a cluster that includes the Padres, Marlins, and Nationals. One bad week and that spot is gone.
This is why Steele’s recovery matters, even if he’s still months away. When he’s healthy, he’s been one of the few sure things in that rotation. In 2023 he made the All-Star team and looked like a genuine ace. In 2024 he followed that up with a 3.07 ERA over 24 starts. That’s not a fluke. That’s a pitcher who can anchor a staff.
The Cubs don’t have a ton of those right now.
Getting Steele back wouldn’t just be a depth boost. It would change how they can structure their rotation down the stretch. Instead of patching together innings, they’d slot in a guy who can give them six or seven quality frames and actually win games against good lineups.
But first he has to keep throwing. Then he has to build up arm strength. Then he has to face hitters. Then he has to get through a rehab assignment. There are a lot of steps between Monday’s session and a return to Wrigley Field.
For now, the Cubs will take the positive sign. The schedule is about to turn toward July, and the playoff race is only going to get tighter. They need every reason to believe that help is on the way.
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