Justin Steele’s elbow setback delays Cubs return timetable

Justin Steele’s return to the Chicago Cubs has been pushed back after he was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left elbow. The setback comes after a bullpen session over the weekend and leaves the club planning without him until sometime after the All-Star break.

Steele’s Texas visit

Craig Counsell said Tuesday that the diagnosis came after Steele visited Dr. Keith Meister in Texas. Meister handled Steele’s season-ending elbow surgery last April, and the latest issue adds another delay for a pitcher the Cubs had been targeting for late May or early June.

Steele last pitched in the majors on April 7, 2025. He is 30 years old, and the club will reevaluate him in another month. Counsell said the delay changes the shape of the recovery, saying, “We’re going to get less of him this year,” while adding, “but still plenty of time to get back for this year.”

Cubs rotation pressure

The timing cuts into a rotation that was already stretched. Heading into Tuesday night’s game at Petco Park, eight other Cubs pitchers on the 40-man roster were on the injured list, and the group included Hunter Harvey with right triceps inflammation, Porter Hodge after season-ending elbow surgery, Riley Martin with a flexor strain in his left elbow, and Shelby Miller as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Daniel Palencia was also on the injured list with a lat strain, along with Ethan Roberts, Caleb Thielbar and Jordan Wicks. Matthew Boyd and Phil Maton had each spent time on the injured list in April, and Jaxon Wiggins was on Triple-A Iowa’s injured list. The Cubs had also allowed 27 runs in three consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Counsell’s injury concern

Counsell did not hide the frustration around Steele’s rehab. “For Justin, it’s just frustrating,” he said, before describing the setback as “another speed bump” that would “take longer.” He also said, “When you have a lot of injuries, of course, we try to examine everything we’re doing,” then added, “I think that you should.”

For Chicago, the practical shift is simple: Steele is no longer part of the short-term pitching plan, and the Cubs have to bridge another month before the next check on his elbow. The club had hoped to count on him sooner, but the path now points beyond the All-Star break.