The Chicago Cubs currently sit a half-game back from the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central standings with an 18-12 record heading into play on May, 1st. They have split the first two games of a four-game series with the New York Mets. With a comeback win Monday night and a 4-2 loss in last evening’s game. The Cubs will host the Milwaukee Brewers starting Friday night for a three-game series. A showdown between the division’s top two teams should be one to watch this coming weekend. The Cubs have Jordan Wicks who was recently added to the injured list with Kyle Hendricks as well. While the team is carrying on without these new absences, they are preparing for the return of their ace in the near future.
LHP – Justin Steele
Steele has not pitched since opening day against the Texas Rangers to start the year when he suffered a hamstring injury fielding a ball up the first base line. In that start he exited after 4.2 innings after giving up three hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out six. Steele has been sent on a rehab assignment to the Iowa Cubs and will make the start with Triple-A today against the Omaha Storm chasers. Last season Steele was the best pitcher for the Cubs going 16-5 on the year with a 3.06 ERA over 30 starts. Adding Steele back to a rotation with Shota Imanaga, James Taillon and Javier Asaad who are all pitching very well right now will be a big boost to a team that is already playing good baseball.
Wrap Up
The Cubs currently are ninth in the National League with a 4.03 ERA as a team, eighth in WHIP with a 1.29, and seventh overall with a .238 opponent batting average against. The team currently has a plus-14 run differential on the year, but getting Steele back in the mix can only improve all the numbers above if he can return to form. Given the injury was to his hamstring and not anything to do with his upper body one would think the return to form would be a more likely result than returning with any struggles like one may have with a shoulder or elbow injury. The start he makes for Iowa will be one to watch closely and if all goes well, we could see him back pitching for the Chicago Cubs middle of next week!
