Fresh off a dominant, five-strikeout rehab performance, the southpaw could solidify the North Siders' postseason bullpen by testing his electric slider against Boston’s bats this weekend.
The Chicago Cubs have a decision to make with Justin Steele.
Steele is currently working his way back from left elbow surgery and a flexor strain that he suffered this year. However, the southpaw appears close to a return.
The former All-Star made four rehab assignment outings with the Iowa Cubs over the last few weeks. He allowed three runs (one earned run) across 1 ⅔ innings in his first outing on September 2, gave up one run across two innings on September 6, allowed two runs across two innings on September 10, and threw two scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his most recent appearance on September 18.
Steele was lights out on the mound in that last rehab assignment outing last week. His slider was working overtime, and his four-seam fastball velocity was a bit up from his earlier rehab appearances. Those are good signs that the Cubs left-hander is feeling close to his former self again.
That encouraging last rehab assignment outing has the Cubs debating whether to activate Steele off the injured list before the end of the regular season. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters in Chicago that the veteran is an “option” out of the bullpen this weekend.
Assuming Steele’s bullpen on Wednesday went well, there is a real possibility that the Cubs activate him this weekend to pitch in a game against the Boston Red Sox. And the North Siders should absolutely let him throw in one of the games in Friday's doubleheader.
Although there are some concerns about how Steele will pitch in this type of environment after such a long layoff, the only way to know is to throw him out there. If the southpaw doesn’t look like himself on the mound, then he obviously won’t be an option to make the postseason roster. However, if he throws the ball well, the Cubs could potentially include him on the postseason roster as a reliever.
That’s why the Cubs should activate Steele this weekend. Let him pitch in a game before the end of the regular season and see how he looks. He could be a better lefty option out of the bullpen on the playoff roster than Caleb Thielbar (who has a 4.99 ERA this season).
If Chicago doesn’t activate Steele this weekend, then his season would be over. The Cubs wouldn’t risk him on the playoff roster without ever pitching in a regular season game.
The Cubs have one day to decide what to do with Steele. However, it would make sense to give him a shot in one of the final games of the regular season. If he is fully healthy, he should pitch against the Red Sox this weekend.
