The Cubs are sending Justin Steele for a second opinion on his elbow, supervisor Craig Counsell instructed reporters (together with Alden González of ESPN and Maddie Lee of The Chicago Solar-Occasions). The southpaw landed on the 15-day injured listing on Wednesday with elbow tendinitis, a shocking transfer that got here two days after Steele fired seven shutout innings in opposition to Texas.
Steele instructed ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Wednesday that he anticipated it to be a minimal 15-day stint. The Cubs despatched him for an MRI on Thursday. Counsell didn’t specify the outcomes of that imaging. Up to now, there’s no indication it’s any extra critical than the preliminary tendinitis analysis. It’s however of some concern any time a pitcher goes for a number of evaluations on an elbow downside.
Elbow tendinitis additionally despatched Steele to the injured listing for a pair weeks final September. Counsell indicated the recurring nature of the harm contributed to the choice to go for a number of opinions. “We wish to be certain that we all know why it has occurred once more so Justin’s acquired all the knowledge after which we are able to go from there,” the supervisor mentioned.
Monday’s begin was simply Steele’s better of the season. He’d allowed at the very least three runs in every of his first three appearances. Steele punched out eight in opposition to three hits and two walks in opposition to the Rangers. Nevertheless, his fastball averaged a season-low 90.2 MPH in that begin after sitting within the 91-92 vary throughout his first three appearances. It clearly didn’t sap his effectiveness, however it was seemingly an indication that he wasn’t working at full power.
Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon and Ben Brown are working as Chicago’s rotation. They haven’t named a possible starter for what would have been Steele’s spot agains the Dodgers on Sunday. A scheduled off day yesterday may enable them to show again to Brown on customary relaxation and delay the necessity for a fifth starter into subsequent week’s sequence in San Diego.
