Justin Steele gave the Cubs a sharp two-inning tune-up with Triple-A Iowa on Friday night, working scoreless ball in a 2-1 win over Omaha and putting the left-hander back in Chicago’s late-season conversation.
| Pitcher | Level | Innings | Runs | Strikeouts | Walks | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Steele | Triple-A Iowa | 2.0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | Iowa 2, Omaha 1 |
Steele closes fourth rehab outing in command
The Friday appearance was Steele’s fourth on a rehab assignment, and it was his cleanest look yet. He punched out five of the batters he faced, issued one walk and did not allow a run before heading back to Chicago.
Steele is scheduled to meet with the Cubs on Tuesday, when the club will map out his next step. A spot on the taxi squad remains one possibility, allowing him to accompany the Major League club without being added to the active roster.
Manager Craig Counsell said the decision will require a broader look at the final week of the season.
“We’ll talk with him,” Counsell said. “He obviously will not be able to pitch for a couple days. We’ll evaluate what we think as we head into the final week. There are a lot of factors involved, and we have to weigh all of them before making a decision.”
A long road back from April surgery
Steele has not appeared in a Major League game since April 7, 2025, when he blanked the Rangers over seven innings. Later that month, he underwent season-ending surgery on his left elbow.
For now, the five strikeouts in two scoreless innings give Chicago another encouraging checkpoint. The question is no longer whether Steele can get through a rehab outing; it is whether there is a meaningful role for him in the Cubs’ final stretch.
