The Cubs may have to wait a little longer before they see Justin Steele back in a game, but they just got a meaningful sign that his comeback is moving in the right direction.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the left-hander 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 for Steele to return to the rotation, and that he would instead 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.
That timeline matters for a Cubs team that badly needs pitching help across the board. Injuries and shaky production have hit both the rotation and the bullpen, and Chicago is already expected to explore outside help before the deadline. The trade deadline falls on August 3, right around the time Steele is set to begin his mound work.
Steele has been out all season with an elbow issue, but this is the first real step toward a return after a long stretch of rehab. He’s been working back for some time, and August now looks like the key month in that process.
A September return would still give the Cubs something valuable down the stretch. Steele may not be ready in time to help in the rotation, but even in a bullpen role, his presence would be a major boost for a club trying to piece together pitching help wherever it can find it.
The 3.30 ERA All-Star left-hander is inching closer, and for Chicago, that’s the kind of update worth circling.
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