Pitching injuries have defined the first month of the 2024 MLB season, and the Chicago Cubs are no exception. But the evolution of Chicago’s pitching staff over the past calendar year has been the product of more than just the names on the injured list. Free-agent signings and departures, unexpected internal breakouts, prospect development and veteran resurgences have brought the Cubs rotation to where it is today: a state of optimism and potential strength, yet with a steady dose of uncertainty for the months ahead. And yes, injuries have played a big part as well.
With news of Cody Bellinger joining fellow outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the injured list this week, the pressure is on the Cubs’ pitching staff to continue delivering quality starts while the offense searches for more reliable sources of run production beyond its injured stars. As the Cubs look to keep pace in an ultra-competitive NL Central, here’s one pressing question about each of their starting pitchers (healthy and hurt) and some thoughts on how the rotation could shake out as the season progresses.
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Justin Steele: Will the hamstring injury have an impact, or will he get right back to business?
Using almost exclusively a two-pitch mix of four-seamers and sliders, Steele authored one of the bigger breakouts of any starting pitcher in baseball in 2023, making his first All-Star team and finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. His ascent to the top of the Cubs starting pitching depth chart earned him the Opening Day nod in 2024, but his inaugural outing — one in which he looked tremendous through four-plus innings against the defending champs — was cut short when he strained his left hamstring fielding a bunt. It was an unfortunate start for both team and player, and it forced Chicago to dip into its depth far sooner than anticipated.
The good news is that Steele appears on track to return to the rotation in the near future. He threw a live BP session on Sunday and is scheduled to make a start at Chicago’s complex in Arizona on Friday. If all goes well, a rehab assignment and return to the roster in early May seem plausible and should provide a much-needed boost to this staff. There doesn’t appear to be any concern about the injury derailing Steele’s season further, but as with any injury, it’ll be interesting to see if the talented lefty can immediately get back to being awesome or if we’ll need to wait a bit before…