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INJURY ALERT Out | Elbow | Since Mar 25, 2026
Justin Steele

Justin Steele

SP • Chicago Cubs Proj Rank N/A Actual N/A 236 ADP • Trade Value
IP ERA W-L K/BB K/9 WHIP FSP
0.0NAN0-0/NANNAN4.28
Compared to same point last season
22.24.763-121/58.31.15

Justin Steele | Fantasy Outlook

Justin Steele’s path to a 2026 return narrows toward a relief role

Steele has yet to take the mound this season as he continues a lengthy recovery from elbow surgery. The second-place Cubs currently hold a 54-42 record and remain in the thick of the postseason race, but they are proceeding with extreme caution regarding their left-hander. Team officials recently indicated that Steele is unlikely to start games this year, shifting his focus toward a healthy 2027 and a possible late-season stint in the bullpen.

This lack of activity is a significant blow to fantasy managers who were hoping for a repeat of his career-best form, such as his 3.41 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 2023. Our models had initially hoped for a mid-season return to stabilize ratios, but his current outlook offers no immediate floor for 2026. The risk of him being limited to short relief effectively eliminates his value as a starting pitcher for the remainder of the fantasy calendar.

Chicago hosts Minnesota for three games starting July 17, but Steele will remain a spectator as he is firmly entrenched on the 60-day injured list. With no rehab games on the horizon and the rotation currently led by Shota Imanaga, there is no path for Steele to contribute to wins or quality starts this week. Given the news that he is unlikely to rejoin the rotation, he should only be held in deep keeper formats with open IL slots. Sit.

Updated 46 mins ago

Justin Steele Fantasy

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DATE OPP INN PC K WLK ER DEC ERA WHIP PTS
Totals: 0.0 0
Fantasy Chart Loading...
YEAR TM APP INN PC K WLK SV W-L ERA WHIP K/9 PTS
2021 CHC 19 52.0 886 55 25 0 4-4 4.33 1.38 9.5 101
2022 CHC 24 119.1 2032 126 50 0 4-7 3.17 1.35 9.5 250
2023 CHC 30 173.1 2680 176 36 0 16-5 3.38 1.18 9.1 464
2024 CHC 24 132.1 2046 135 37 0 5-5 3.33 1.11 9.2 320
2025 CHC 4 22.2 313 21 5 0 3-1 4.76 1.15 8.3 54
ON PACE 6 38 528 35 8 0 5-1 4.76 1.15 8.3 91
3-YEAR AVG 19 108 1680 111 26 0 8-4 3.48 1.16 9.2 279
Career 101 497.1 7957 513 153 0 0-0 3.49 1.23 9.3

Steele Projection

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No projection for this week.
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Not available due to injury or suspension.
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OWN START TRENDS

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Depth Chart

Chicago Cubs

Roster Breakdown
NAME OWN START
Carson Kelly 20% 13%
Moises Ballesteros 5% 0%
NAME OWN START
Alex Bregman 90% 73%
Michael Busch 74% 58%
NAME OWN START
Nico Hoerner 91% 70%
Dansby Swanson 84% 65%
Pedro Ramirez 2% 0%
NAME OWN START
Pete Crow-Armstrong 100% 98%
Seiya Suzuki 97% 90%
Ian Happ 91% 74%
Matt Shaw 8% 2%
Michael Conforto 2% 1%
NAME OWN START
Shota Imanaga 94% 61%
Matthew Boyd 77% 63%
Ben Brown 49% 4%
Edward Cabrera 36% 6%
Javier Assad 19% 14%
Colin Rea 13% 4%
Cade Horton 9% 3%
Justin Steele 8% 0%
David Peterson 7% 6%
Jameson Taillon 6% 0%
NAME OWN START
Daniel Palencia 52% 10%
Jacob Webb 15% 14%
Caleb Thielbar 3% 2%
Trent Thornton 2% 2%
Ryan Rolison 1% 1%
Drew Pomeranz 1% 1%

Team Rankings

AVG
.244
14th
R
484
5th
HR
121
8th
RBI
452
5th
SB
68
13th
OBP
.336
3rd
SLG
.411
11th
OPS
.747
4th
W
54
5th
SV
20
25th
ERA
4.34
21st
WHIP
1.28
13th
QS
24
25th
TeamW-LWin %GBRSRA
BrewersBrewers59-37.615-489363
CubsCubs54-42.5635484432
CardinalsCardinals50-45.5268.5429423
PiratesPirates50-47.5159.5516472
RedsReds43-52.45315.5395455

Team Stats

PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Carson Kelly7022035606320.273  
Moisés Ballesteros5915616366231.231  
Miguel Amaya5213125303130.229  
PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Michael Busch95347408311492.239  
PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Nico Hoerner94374378743814.233  
Pedro Ramírez2657814172.246  
Scott Kingery8421001.250  
PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Alex Bregman9437045899412.241  
PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Dansby Swanson923135966165812.211  
PlayerGPABRHHRRBISBAVGO/S
Pete Crow-Armstrong9635863104215324.291  
Ian Happ92341597517424.220  
Seiya Suzuki80302478115481.268  
Michael Conforto6214020348221.243  
Matt Shaw5613020324204.246  
Dylan Carlson3410000.000  
Kevin Alcántara171734030.235  
Justin Dean10532030.400  
PlayerGPWLSVIPSOERAWHIPO/S
Shota Imanaga19580108.01054.171.12  
David Peterson1947182.1706.451.64  
Colin Rea1975194.2704.751.45  
Edward Cabrera1454072.1655.101.40  
Ben Brown2042168.0651.850.94  
Jameson Taillon1325067.2595.191.30  
Matthew Boyd951046.0474.501.28  
Javier Assad1561061.1374.111.13  
Jordan Wicks402210.1810.451.94  
Cade Horton21007.142.460.82  
Ty Blach10003.020.000.33  
Vince Velasquez20003.110.000.30  
PlayerGPWLSVIPSOERAWHIPO/S
Jacob Webb4232541.1483.051.28  
Daniel Palencia1921316.2192.701.38  
Trent Thornton2532329.0132.481.00  
Caleb Thielbar3222227.2354.231.30  
Hoby Milner3910135.2183.531.21  
Jake Woodford1710125.1237.461.82  
Corbin Martin70015.0410.802.00  
Ryan Rolison3251135.1362.801.30  
Riley Martin80008.1102.160.84  
Luke Little10001.019.002.00  
Gavin Hollowell80009.292.791.45  
Ethan Roberts2302025.2174.211.40  
Tyler Ferguson100109.2137.451.03  
Drew Pomeranz2923027.2175.531.59  
Phil Maton3001026.2316.081.76  
Yacksel Ríos10001.220.000.00  
Hunter Harvey40104.046.751.50  
Jayden Murray1000016.1149.372.08  

Owned Breakdown

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Schedule

DATE OPP SCORE MATCHUP
07-17 MIN08:05 EDT
07-18 MIN02:20 EDT
07-19 MIN02:20 EDT

Player Timeline

Jun 22nd

Justin Steele Makes First Throw Since Setback; Cubs Hope for Second-Half ...

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