The Chicago Cubs have gotten off to a solid start to the 2025 MLB season, winning nine of their first 15 games with terrific play from their newest star, Kyle Tucker.
But the team lost one of its top starting pitchers this week in Justin Steele, who was placed on the injured list with left elbow tendinitis. Originally, this was expected to be a short stay on the IL, but a recent update has sparked panic among Cubs fans.
When Will Justin Steele Return From Injury?
Jesse Rogers speculated that Steele’s elbow tendinitis could result in an extended stay on the IL. This makes sense because Steele dealt with the same injury in September of last year, forcing him to miss about two weeks of the season. It’s discouraging to see Steele deal with tendinitis once again, so perhaps the Cubs want to play it safe here.
Jesse Rogers on ESPN 1000 today says his sense is that, after the Justin Steele imaging, the news today might be not good. He wasn't reporting anything for sure, but doesn't have a feeling that it'll be a minimum stay on the IL.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 11, 2025
You never want to be too careful when it comes to an elbow injury with pitchers. Any misstep could result in further damage and an even longer absence. The Cubs would be smart to take a conservative approach here, especially since they play in one of the weaker divisions in MLB in the NL Central. It’s likely that we won’t see Steele return from injury for at least a month.
Cubs’ Season Outlook
Without Steele, the Cubs’ rotation looks a lot more thin. While Shota Imanaga is a frontline starter and Matthew Boyd has been a pleasant surprise, Jameson Taillon is little more than an innings-eater, while Ben Brown is completely unproven.
The bullpen has been an issue so far, with new closer Ryan Pressly sporting a 17.9% walk rate and 5.9% strikeout rate. This makes it even more important for the rotation to pick up the slack.
If it’s revealed that Steele will be out for a while, don’t be surprised to see the Cubs start to look for some pitching help. Perhaps they could target the Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara.
This is a rebuilding team that may be looking to cash in on Alcantara, so this looks like a natural fit, especially with the Cubs taking an aggressive approach with Tucker, an impending free agent.