The Chicago Cubs are fighting to win the National League Central and could be getting All-Star pitcher Justin Steele back for the postseason.
Steele has not pitched in a game since April 7, 2025, but according to Cubs insider Taylor McGregor, he will start a rehab assignment on Wednesday, giving him a chance to return at some point. However, there is likely not enough time for him to return as a starter, so the Cubs could be looking to add him to the bullpen.
Steele underwent elbow surgery in 2025 and a flexor strain this year has kept him on the shelf. When healthy, he can be one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, and adding him to the bullpen would be great for the Cubs.
The Cubs bullpen surrenders a ton of home runs, allowing the fourth most in baseball this year. That can be a real problem in the postseason, and Steele could be part of the solution to that problem. He does not surrender the long ball often, and had the lowest home runs allowed per nine innings in the National League in 2023.
Steele has plenty of hurdles to clear before he's back at Wrigley Field pitching for the Cubs. However, the fact that he is starting his rehab assignment on Sept.1 gives him a chance to be ready for a bullpen role by October.
