60-Day IL
Injury Elbow
Est. Return 2/1/2027
2026 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Steele made just four starts before undergoing UCL revision surgery in April, which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. The left-hander surrendered five runs during his season debut but pitched to a 3.38 ERA in his other three outings. More importantly, Steele is poised to begin 2026 on the injured list, but he could be ready to join the Cubs' starting rotation at some point during the first half of the season. His fantasy upside could vary significantly depending on when he's actually available, so keeping tabs on his rehab progress in the spring will be significant. Steele could have some limitations in his first year back from elbow surgery -- both in terms of effectiveness and workload -- but his career 3.30 ERA and 9.2 K/9 offer plenty of reason for fantasy managers to be willing to take the risk. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $6.78 million contract with the Cubs in January of 2026.
Approaching mound work
Steele (elbow) was cleared to begin ramping up his throwing program Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis
Steele began a throwing program in late June, and although he's started to increase the intensity of his throwing sessions, the Cubs will hold off on having him throw off a mound until the first week of August. The left-hander won't have enough time to build up and be available as a starter this year, but returning as a reliever late in the season isn't out of the question.
Steele began a throwing program in late June, and although he's started to increase the intensity of his throwing sessions, the Cubs will hold off on having him throw off a mound until the first week of August. The left-hander won't have enough time to build up and be available as a starter this year, but returning as a reliever late in the season isn't out of the question.
Pitching Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
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2025
2024
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2021
2020
Minor League Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-20%
BAA vs LHP
2026
No Stats
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .187 | 38 | 9 | 23 | 2 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .233 | 118 | 33 | 109 | 15 | |||
| 2026vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2026vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .185 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .276 | 15 | 3 | 16 | 5 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .188 | 32 | 7 | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .227 | 103 | 30 | 93 | 10 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-5%
ERA on Road
2026
No Stats
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 3.40 | 1.12 | 76.2 | 9.0 | 2.9 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 3.24 | 1.09 | 80.2 | 8.8 | 1.9 | ||||
| 2026Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2026Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2025Home | 4.09 | 1.00 | 11.0 | 10.6 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2025Away | 5.40 | 1.29 | 11.2 | 6.2 | 1.5 | ||||
| 2024Home | 3.29 | 1.14 | 65.2 | 8.8 | 3.0 | ||||
| 2024Away | 2.87 | 1.06 | 69.0 | 9.3 | 2.0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
2022
2016
Steele had a breakout season in 2023 but somewhat of a breakdown 2024 season when you look at him from a medical angle. The hamstring strain he incurred in his first start of the season led to him missing a month, but then left forearm soreness in late August was a scare, especially for someone who has already had Tommy John surgery. Thankfully, Steele made it back to throw two more games before the season ended, so some of the mystery around the injury was resolved. Steele continues to employ a very unusual repertoire for a starter, as he throws his four-seamer or his slider nearly 90 percent of the time. Lefties continued to have little success against him, while righties are still mostly kept at bay because Steele does not hurt himself with walks, and the use of the changeup and curve at least keep righties guessing. That combination has helped him become one of the better hard contact suppressors in the league. Nearly every indicator points in the right direction, but the health scare of September is a fresh reminder of his downside for 2025.
More Fantasy News
Focusing on 2027 season
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday in a radio appearance that he doesn't expect Steele (elbow) to rejoin the major-league rotation this season, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Analysis
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Resumes throwing program
Steele (elbow) resumed a throwing program Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis
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Continuing to make progress
Steele (elbow) will throw plyometric balls for the next week and then progress to throwing a baseball, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis
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Out through All-Star break
Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Steele's (elbow) setback will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Analysis
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Suffers setback
Steele (elbow) suffered a setback in his rehab program and was shut down from throwing Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Set for bullpen role
Steele, who hasn't pitched this season while working his way back from an elbow injury, could be used as a reliever if he's able to return to the big-league roster before the end of the 2026 season, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Analysis
Steele hasn't pitched since April 7, 2025, but if he finds a way to get healthy before the end of the season, he'd probably be used in a relief. Per Nightengale, manager Craig Counsell recently said that it'd be too late in the season for Steele to rejoin the rotation, assuming he'd be able to pitch at all. If he's cleared to return to the mound before the end of the season, he'd do so as a reliever, but it remains to be seen if that'll happen based on the setbacks he's had in the past.
Steele hasn't pitched since April 7, 2025, but if he finds a way to get healthy before the end of the season, he'd probably be used in a relief. Per Nightengale, manager Craig Counsell recently said that it'd be too late in the season for Steele to rejoin the rotation, assuming he'd be able to pitch at all. If he's cleared to return to the mound before the end of the season, he'd do so as a reliever, but it remains to be seen if that'll happen based on the setbacks he's had in the past.