The Chicago Cubs are hunting for pitching help, and they may have a significant internal answer on the horizon.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, left-hander Justin Steele is expected to begin throwing off a mound in the first week of August. Nightengale also reported that Cubs manager Craig Counsell said it would be too late in the season for Steele to get back into the rotation, but that he could be used out of the bullpen in September.
“Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele, who hasn't pitched since April 7, 2025, is expected to start throwing off a mound the first week of August, but Cubs manager Craig Counsell said it will be too late in the season for him to rejoin the rotation and instead would be used in the bullpen in September,” Nightengale writes.
Steele has been on the injured list all year and has been working his way back from an elbow issue. The mound work in August marks a meaningful step in that process, even if a return to the majors still appears to be a September possibility.
That timing lines up with the MLB trade deadline on August 3, which leaves the Cubs still free to look outside the organization for help while also waiting on Steele’s progress. If he does make it back, even in a limited bullpen role, it would give Chicago another arm for the stretch run and, potentially, the postseason.
The 3.30 ERA All-Star left-hander has been out since April 7, 2025, but this latest update suggests he is moving closer to rejoining the club. For a Cubs pitching staff dealing with injuries and uneven production, that’s the kind of news they’ve been waiting to hear.
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