During the next homestand, Justin Steele is expected to return to the Chicago Cubs rotation after being placed on the injured list.

DENVER__Left-hander Justin Steele had high expectations when he was placed on the disabled list almost two weeks ago.

The good news is that Steele’s left elbow tendonitis diagnosis kept things from becoming worse and increased the likelihood that he would heal in time for the season to end. After throwing a 40-pitch bullpen on Saturday afternoon at Coors Field, Steele is anticipated to come off the disabled list and start the Chicago Cubs’ next homestand against the Oakland Athletics and Washington Nationals.

Steele’s impending return won’t coincide with a stunning run to the postseason. The Cubs lost a fantastic start on Saturday night at Coors Field, scoring two runs in six or more innings before losing to the Rockies 6-5 in 10 innings. They ran the risk of being swept as a result. The closer, Porter Hodge, turned in a

Steele’s impending return won’t coincide with a stunning run to the postseason. The Cubs lost a fantastic start on Saturday night at Coors Field, scoring two runs in six or more innings before losing to the Rockies 6-5 in 10 innings. They ran the risk of being swept as a result. Porter Hodge, the closer, let up a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning to tie the game.

The Cubs want to make sure that Steele feels well and recovers well on Sunday following the significant energy test on Saturday. Manager Craig Counsell basically reiterated, “He’s going to pitch if he’s healthy.”

“We are unable to check any more physical boxes here.”

Steele is eligible to return from the disabled list on Monday, and he anticipates playing in the game and getting a touch-and-feel off the field when the Cubs play in Chicago again.

Steele said on Saturday, “The most important thing is the relief I get from throwing and not feeling anything—it’s like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.” “Because nobody’s necessarily 100% when you’re pitching and grinding through a season, but it just feels really good to play catch and not feel anything when you keep at it and eventually figure out what it was, get some peace of mind, and then get it feeling right.”

Since missing five weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury he had during his opening-day start, Steele has become the pitcher the Cubs have needed. He lived up to his breakout season from the previous year, when he finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and was selected to his first All-Star Game.

Steele has a 3.09 ERA and 130 ERA+ through 22 starts. In the rotation, the 29-year-old has been reliable ever since he began playing full-time in 2022. His 10.3 fWAR ranks 14th in the major leagues during that time, while his 3.10 ERA is tied for eighth best with New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.

The mental side of illness treatment is frequently the most challenging, but in this case, knowing exactly what he is dealing with has been beneficial.

“Knowing that I’m throwing and not feeling anything—that freedom of not necessarily pitching around anything—has been more liberating mentally,” Steele said. All I’m doing is mentally playing catch a lot more freely when it comes to that kind of thing. My bullpen will be more focused on finishing tasks that go beyond the plate and less concerned with minor things like how uncomfortable my arm feels.

As the Cubs’ season ends on September 29, it is not in the cards to shut down Steele, who should ideally return to assist his team reach the postseason. tactics.

According to Steele, pitching innings are important no matter what, “particularly towards the conclusion of the season when you’re heading into the summer and need to demonstrate your health.”