Playoff rosters have a way of creating surprise openings, and the Cubs may be staring at a few of them as the Wild Card round approaches. Chicago’s lineup and rotation are mostly locked in, but the edges of the roster could still shift if the team decides to get creative in search of an extra advantage.
One name that could come into the mix is Justin Steele. The Cubs bullpen has had its bright spots in September, but Steele’s return in any form would give the group a real lift.
In his latest rehab outing with the Iowa Cubs, he threw two scoreless innings and struck out five. That said, it would be a dangerous gamble.
Steele has not appeared in an MLB game in 17 months, and the Cubs would be asking a lot by throwing him into playoff leverage right away. The club has already shown caution in a similar situation, ruling Shelby Miller out of a 2026 return for the same reasons.
Even so, the shaky state of the bullpen could push Chicago toward a bold move if it wants dependable relief help.
Justin Dean is another possibility. He got a brief look with the Cubs earlier this season, playing in 17 games before being sent back to Triple-A Iowa.
He profiles as a depth outfielder with solid defense and limited offense, hitting .213/.326/.297 over 87 Triple-A games. But Chicago has mostly used him as a pinch runner at the big-league level, and there’s a clear reason for that: he has 264 career stolen bases in the minors.
With the Cubs’ position-player depth in strong shape, they could choose Dean over a more expendable option such as Gabriel Arias. In October, one well-timed stolen base can matter just as much as a hard-hit ball.
Gavin Hollowell also fits the kind of profile that can sneak onto a playoff roster. He has been working back from a shoulder injury since July 31, and the Cubs could use the swing-and-miss he brings.
Before the injury, Hollowell struck out 21% of the hitters he faced across 14.1 innings and posted a 2.51 ERA. Since Sept. 5, he has allowed just one earned run in four rehab appearances with Triple-A.
With the bullpen always under a microscope in October, that kind of relief profile can get attention fast.
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For the Cubs, the timing matters because both teams are already in the Wild Card field, yet neither has locked down its seeding. Heavy rain and strong winds are hanging over the weekend forecast, which means the series could be shaped as much by the skies as by the standings. Even in a game that counts, there is still room for a little Fenway oddity, and this one has all the makings of a September grind. [Read more 🡒]