Ben Brown and Justin Steele are progressing toward potential returns as the Cubs prepare for the postseason.
Two Chicago Cubs pitchers have taken significant steps toward rejoining the team.
Right-handed pitcher Ben Brown and left-handed pitcher Justin Steele both threw live batting practice over the weekend, and according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, they each felt great following their respective sessions.
Everything remains positive, and the next step for both Brown and Steele will come while the Cubs are in Arizona playing the Diamondbacks next week.
Both pitchers are scheduled to throw in Arizona Bridge League games while the Cubs are in town. Counsell described the games as "glorified live batting practice sessions," but they will still provide Brown and Steele with an opportunity to pitch off a mound against live hitters.
Should things go well, Brown specifically will head back to Chicago with the Cubs and prepare to begin a rehab assignment before rejoining the team.
Brown had been one of Chicago's best pitchers in 2026, posting a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 68 innings. He was used as a multi inning relief pitcher before transitioning into more of a starting role, but he landed on the IL on August 3 with a neck strain. It was the second time this season that neck issues had sidelined Brown.
Former Cubs ace Justin Steele last pitched in a Major League Baseball game on April 7, 2025. He underwent Tommy John surgery and has been recovering ever since, but he has suffered multiple setbacks along the way. For Cubs fans, it was a joy simply to see Steele back in uniform and on the mound over the weekend. There remains hope for a scenario in which Steele returns to the Cubs in a relief role at some point in 2026.
Even if it is only for the postseason, the Cubs seem to be getting a handful of big arms back at the perfect time. Daniel Palencia was recently reinstated from the IL. Shelby Miller has been on a rehab assignment for more than a week. And now, the Cubs have received positive reports on both Brown and Steele.
It is not just about the boost those pitchers could provide for the remainder of the 2026 season, but also the encouraging sign that some of Chicago's highest upside arms should be back in the mix next year.
These are two of Chicago's very best arms when fully healthy, and it's all hands on deck for the rest of 2026.
