Cubs left-handed pitcher Justin Steele has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to tendinitis in his left elbow, a surprising turn given his recent successful outing. Steele reported discomfort during his last game against the Rangers but managed to complete seven shutout innings. Although the Cubs did not previously mention elbow issues, there are concerns about his performance trends reflected in Statcast data, showing a career-low fastball average speed. The team's rotation plans will adjust accordingly in his absence.
It's something of a surprise IL placement for the excellent 29-year-old southpaw. The Cubs hadn't previously acknowledged any elbow troubles for Steele - at least not publicly.
Steele's fastball averaged just 90.2 mph during that outing, however, tying him for the lowest mark of his career.
Statcast has measured Steele's average heater at 90.8 mph this season - a career-low mark that's down even relative to his early work in prior seasons.
The Cubs still have Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and locked into rotation spots. Veteran swingman seems likely to step into the starting five in place of Steele.
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