Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) threw 47 pitches in 2 1/3 innings in an extended spring game on Friday in Arizona. Steele will continue his rehab program there for now, but pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said on Thursday that the hurler should be able to start shifting into a five-day routine following his recent period of building up his workload. The 28-year-old star left-hander is recuperating from a strained left hamstring, and while it's unclear how long his rehab stint will last, Steele might be able to get back into Chicago's rotation in early May if all continues to go well in his recovery. Rookie right-hander Ben Brown has shown some promise with a 3.72 ERA (2.88 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB over 19 1/3 innings (six appearances) for the Cubs, and he'll be a decent streaming option for fantasy managers in Saturday's scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) went through some fielding practice on Tuesday before the team's game against the visiting Houston Astros. Steele suffered his strained left hamstring while fielding a ball on Opening Day before landing on the injured list, so the Cubs want to make sure he's good before he throws in an extended spring training game this Friday. The 28-year-old will return to a spot in Chicago's rotation, but he's going to need at least a short minor-league rehab assignment before that happens. Steele is worth stashing in an injured-list spot in most fantasy leagues after going 16-5 with a career-best 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings in 30 starts for the Cubbies in 2023.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) completed a live batting practice session on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Manager Craig Counsell said everything went well, and Steele's next outing will come in an extended spring training game in Arizona on Friday. On the mend from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain that he suffered back on Opening Day, Steele continues to ramp up his activity ahead of a minor-league rehab assignment that appears to be on the horizon. Based on Steele's current progress, fantasy managers can expect the 28-year-old All-Star left-hander to rejoin Chicago's rotation at some point in the middle of May. Right-hander Javier Assad has been a major factor in mixed leagues as a starter for the Cubs to begin the 2024 regular season, posting a 2.11 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 21:8 K:BB over 21 1/3 innings (four starts), but he'll face a tough matchup on paper in Thursday's scheduled home start versus the Houston Astros.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Sunday, and the next steps after that could be a minor-league rehab assignment if he can avoid a setback with his hammy on Sunday. The 28-year-old southpaw suffered a left-hamstring strain on Opening Day and was forced to the injured list. However, he appears to be making good progress and could return to the Cubs' starting rotation after a rehab start or two in the minors. The former fifth-rounder in 2014 was a first-time All-Star in 2023 by going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA (3.02 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 strikeouts in 173 1/3 frames over his 30 starts. Steele should be stashed in an IL spot by fantasy managers in all leagues.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday. According to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Steele still has ways to go here but is progressing. The 28-year-old will throw for the first time since suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain on Opening Day. Barring any setbacks, Steele is on track to return in May. Ben Brown replaced Steele in the rotation and boasts a 6.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and an 11:4 K: BB across 10 1/3 innings this season. Fantasy managers can add Brown in deep-league or NL-Only league formats.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) will likely go on the injured list after suffering a left-hamstring strain in his Opening Day start on Thursday evening versus the Texas Rangers. Steele will undergo an MRI exam on Friday. Counsell didn't want to speculate on whether Steele will only need a minimum IL stint. The 28-year-old southpaw suffered the injury while fielding a bunt in the fifth inning and will now have to miss at least 10 days and maybe more. It's a tough blow for the Cubs and their ace, as Steele allowed only one earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out six against the defending-champion Rangers in 4 2/3 innings of work before departing. With Steele likely heading to the IL, it's possible fellow lefty Drew Smyly will join Chicago's rotation in the near future.

Updating a previous report, the Chicago Cubs are saying that left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) left his Opening Day start on Thursday night against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers with left-hamstring tightness. Steele was holding his left hamstring after fielding a bunt up the first baseline and falling in the fifth inning as he made a flip to first base. The good news is that before leaving early, Steele had held the Rangers to an earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. It doesn't sound like the 28-year-old southpaw's injury is all that serious, but fantasy managers will still have to check back in the next few days to see if Steele will be able to make his next scheduled start.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (hamstring) exited during the fifth inning of Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers with an apparent left-hamstring injury. Steele went down after fielding a bunted ball and flipping it to first base, favoring what appeared to be his left hamstring. The 28-year-old southpaw was throwing well against an explosive Rangers lineup, giving up a lone run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts before departing, and the severity of the injury remains unknown. It would be a big blow to Chicago's rotation if their ace and 2023 All-Star needs to miss time beyond Opening Day, and fantasy managers will have to hold their breath until the Cubs update Steele's status. The flame-throwing Julian Merryweather took over after Steele's exit.

Chicago Cubs Opening Day starter Justin Steele (knee) said on Monday that he threw a bullpen session in camp and that all systems are go for him to kick off the 2024 regular season on Thursday against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers on the road. The 28-year-old southpaw was removed from his final Cactus League start last Friday as a precaution due to a left-knee contusion, but it's obviously nothing serious and he will kick off the Opening Day festivities for the Cubbies later this week. Steele is firmly on the fantasy radar as a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 fantasy starter this year after earning his first All-Star selection in 2023 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 K's in 30 starts. The matchup against the defending World champs on the road isn't the best one for DFS purposes, though.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele remains on track to make his Opening Day start this Thursday against the Rangers. The southpaw suffered a knee contusion Friday after being hit by a line drive in a Cactus League contest versus the Giants. By Saturday, Steele said that it was bruised and sore, but that's it. The 2023 All-Star went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA (3.02 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, and a 19.6% K-BB% in 2023. The 28-year-old's NFBC ADP of 103 overall isn't giving him the credit he deserves with a RotoBaller rank of 84 overall. The lefty is a solid No. 3 starter for fantasy squads, with No. 2 upside.

According to the Chicago Cubs, left-hander Justin Steele (knee) left his Cactus League start on Friday against the San Francisco Giants with a left-knee contusion after he was drilled by a comebacker in the second inning. It's not a serious injury, so Steele should still be able to make his Opening Day start next Thursday on March 28. The 28-year-old southpaw made his first All-Star team in 2023 by going 16-5 with a career-best 3.06 ERA (3.02 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and career-high 176 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings over 30 starts. Steele doesn't have eye-opening velocity but still manages to strike out a fair number of batters and has done a good job of limiting home runs early in his MLB career. After his strong 2023 campaign, he's become a nice target as a low-end No. 2 fantasy starter/high-end No. 3.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (leg) was forced to exit early during Friday's Cactus League matchup against the San Francisco Giants. The left-hander was lifted after being struck by a ball on the lower left leg. He remained on the ground while grabbing his knee until eventually exiting the contest. This is not good news as Steele is the ace of this staff and a CY Young candidate last season. His absence would be a huge hit to this team. The organization is likely to have Steele undergo further testing and will give an update on his status later in the day.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has been announced as the Opening Day starter, as per skipper Craig Counsell. It's the first Opening Day start for Steele as he looks to build on a season that saw him enter the NL Cy Young conversation. The 28-year-old worked to a 3.06 ERA across 30 starts, posting an impressive 19.6% K-BB% in the process. The southpaw has been a model of consistency in his young career as he owns a 3.30 ERA and a 16.8% K-BB% in 74 outings (63 starts) while generating ground balls at a healthy 50.2% clip. The Cubs lost starter Marcus Stroman in free agency but also added international free agent Shota Imanaga. Steele now headlines a rotation that ranked 14th with a 4.26 ERA a season ago.

The Chicago Cubs and left-hander Justin Steele have avoided arbitration and have agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal for the 2024 campaign. The southpaw is coming off of an excellent season that saw him work to a 3.06 ERA across a career-high 30 starts and 173 1/3 innings of work. He did so despite limping to the finish line as he surrendered six runs twice over his final three starts with 15 runs total allowed over 14 1/3 innings in that span. Nonetheless, Steele now sports a 3.30 career ERA across 74 appearances (63 starts) spanning 349 1/3 innings of work. His 2023 campaign also included a trip to the All-Star game and a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. Even without spectacular strikeout stuff, Steele should be a reliable fantasy option again in the 2024 season.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele will no longer start on Sunday against the Brewers, per beat writer Meghan Montemurro. Due to the fact that the Cubs were eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday, Chicago will no longer need the services of their ace. Instead, it'll be veteran Drew Smyly taking the ball against Milwaukee. Smyly will likely work as an opener in this contest, which limits his DFS value. Steele, who ended up putting together an excellent season on the North Side, will finish with a 16-5 record, 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 176:36 K/BB ratio over 173 1/3 innings (30 starts)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will look to improve his chances of taking down the NL Cy Young Award Wednesday when he takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago. One of the 2023 season's top breakout players, Steele has pitched to a 2.73 ERA and a healthy 19.1% K-BB% on the season while turning in a 16-4 record that ties him for the second-most wins in baseball, two behind Atlanta's Spencer Strider. The southpaw is also in search of a bounce-back effort after yielding six earned runs across six innings against the D-backs his last time out, ending a three-start stretch in which he allowed just a single earned run alongside 26 strikeouts against three walks across 21 innings of work.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will look to keep his remarkable consistency in order Thursday when he takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road. The left-hander has been a model of consistency this season as he's allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 straight starts while he's also done so in 21 of his 23 outings. As a result, Steele has turned in a 2.80 ERA on the season to go alongside an 18.1% K-BB% while piling up a 14-3 record in the process. The 28-year-old has been a staple in the Cubs' rotation since debuting in 2021 as he sports a 3.21 ERA across 67 appearances (56 starts) in his big-league career. He will take on a Pirates offense that ranks 21st with a .308 wOBA verss left-handed pitching this season.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will look to build on a bounce-back effort when he gets the ball for a road start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The left-hander was roughed up for six earned runs while allowing 10 hits, including two home runs, in a July 16 outing against the Boston Red Sox. However, Steele bounce back with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball along with a season-high nine strikeouts in a winning effort against these very Cardinals his last time out. The 28-year-old is enjoying a banner year, turning in a 2.95 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and a career-best 17.7% K-BB% on the back of a tiny 5% BB% in 18 starts this season. Steele will take on a Cardinals offense that ranks 13th with a .327 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this season.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele earned the victory on Friday when he allowed just three hits over 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and one walk in a 10-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. Steele continued his breakout season in this one, limiting the Guardians to just three hits, all of which were singles. He allowed just one base-runner to reach over his first four innings after he hit Tyler Freeman with a pitch to open the game. The stellar outing lowered Steele's ERA to a pristine 2.43. He'll carry his 9-2 record, 1.03 WHIP, and 76:19 K/BB ratio over 85 1/3 innings (15 starts) into a road start against the Milwaukee Brewers in his next turn.