As Steele goes on IL with hamstring injury, Cubs turn to Brown
The Cubs placed pitcher Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain and called up right-hander Ben Brown.
Manager Craig Counsell told reporters before Saturday’s game against the Rangers he expects Steele to miss all of April and hopefully be ready to return in May. Counsell suggested Steele needs to be able to walk without a limp before any timeline can be determined.
Steele left Thursday's season opener in Texas in the fifth inning. On a soft grounder to the first-base side, Steele chased down the ball, made a flip throw to first, then hit the ground and grabbed the back of his leg. After the game he told reporters he “felt something grab” the hamstring.
“Spirits are high,” Steele said that night. “I felt it was good to get out there and get the first one under your belt. Opening Day, all the jitters and everything, definitely nervous today leading up to the outing. It was good to feel all those emotions and get back out there, get on the horse again. (Want to) have a speedy recovery from this and get right back out there.”
The 6-foot-6 Brown has been one of the Cubs most promising pitching prospects since they landed him in a trade with Philadelphia for reliever David Robertson in 2022. The Cubs faced Robertson, who is now with the Rangers, during Thursday's extra-inning loss.
Brown looked good in spring training, posting a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings, with 12 strikeouts. Brown told the Des Moines Register he simplified his approach during the winter, dropped the slider, and will focus on his fastball, curve and change.
The Long Island native likely would have made his major-league debut late last season but was sidelined by an oblique injury while pitching in Iowa.
The Cubs' starting rotation is set for the next few days. Kyle Hendricks started Game 2 in Texas, followed by Jordan Wicks, Shota Imanaga in Monday's home opener, then Javier Assad. So barring a rainout, the Cubs will need a replacement to start for Steele on Wednesday against Colorado. That would be Brown.
Facing left-hander Cody Bradford on Saturday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell moved Nico Hoerner to the leadoff spot in the order. Ian Happ, after leading off Thursday, was in the sixth spot. Christopher Morel got the start at third base after serving as DH in the opener.
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports