The Chicago Cubs are off to a strong start in 2025, entering Sunday’s game with a 10-7 record and sitting atop the National League Central. They are going to have to find a way to continue that strong start without one of their best starting pitchers.
Manager Craig Counsell announced on Sunday afternoon that starting pitcher Justin Steele is going to miss the remainder of the season due to left elbow surgery.
Steele made four starts this season for the Cubs, winning three of them.
His most recent start was a gem on April 7 when he went seven innings, allowing zero earned runs and striking out eight hitters against the Texas Rangers. It was his best start of the season.
Steele has been a regular on the Cubs pitching staff since the start of the 2021 season and over the previous three seasons has been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. He has posted an ERA+ of 130 or better in each of the past three seasons (with a 100 ERA+ being league average), while also finishing in the top five of the 2023 National League Cy Young voting.
The Cubs made a huge addition this offseason to land outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, giving them a legitimate shot to compete in a weak NL Central. Tucker has been everything they could have hoped for — and more — so far and has completely changed the vibe of the season. But with him being in the final year of his contract and likely seeking the next $500M contract, there is no guarantee he is back next season. That puts added pressure on the Cubs to compete this season while he is still there.
Losing a pitcher like Steele is going to put a serious dent in those efforts.
It is possible the Cubs could dip into the trade market and look for a replacement, but it will be difficult to find somebody who will duplicate what Steele has done for them the previous three seasons.
There is no way to sugarcoat it for the Cubs. This is simply a significant and potentially season-changing injury.
