Chicago Cubs Get Troubling Injury Update on Justin Steele

The Chicago Cubs got a troublesome report on Wednesday as starting pitcher Justin Steele left his start against the Tampa Bay Rays after just three innings.

The Cubs reported that he left with left forearm tightness.

UPDATE: Cubs SP Justin Steele left today's game vs. the Rays with left forearm tightness.
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) May 31, 2023

We certainly don't want to speculate on the nature of the injury, but any time you hear "forearm tightness," the antennas get raised up.

Steele has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year so any absence would be noteworthy for a struggling Cubs team.

This season, he's 6-2 with a 2.65 ERA in 12 starts. He's struck out 58 batters in 68 innings.

He made his major league debut in 2021 and owns a lifetime 14-13 record with a 3.28 ERA.

We've written a lot about Steele this season because of his success. Earlier this season, fellow pitcher Marcus Stroman called him the best pitcher in baseball. He also tweeted about him previously.

Steele had thrown three scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays before departing. He allowed no hits and struck out one.

At the time of this posting, the Cubs lead the Rays, 2-0, in the top of the seventh inning. Hayden Wesneski has thrown 3.2 shutout innings in relief.

The Cubs have scored runs via singles by Ian Happ and Mike Tauchman.

If the Cubs win today, they'll move to 25-30 on the season. They'll be off on Thursday before traveling to San Diego to take on the Padres for a series beginning on Friday.

We'll continue to update you as information on Steele becomes available.

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