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Chicago Cubs open the 2024 season holding their breath as pitcher Justin Steele exits a strong start with an injury

Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune
·7 min read

ARLINGTON, Tex. — As left-hander Justin Steele lay on the grass at Globe Life Field grabbing his hamstring five innings into the Chicago Cubs’ season, concern grew for how long the All-Star pitcher might be sidelined.

Steele was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday. He will likely go on the 15-day injured list, manager Craig Counsell said. The unknown severity of the injury loomed over an already tough 4-3 walk-off loss on Jonah Heim’s two-out, bases-loaded single off Drew Smyly in 10 innings to the Texas Rangers.

“You’re thinking it’s just a shame,” Counsell said of his initial reaction. “He was pitching really, really well. Obviously an important member of the team and it looks like we’re going to miss him for a little bit here.”

Steele had largely kept the Rangers in check entering the fifth inning, recording six strikeouts with one walk and three hits allowed. The lone run scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game in the fourth.

With one out in the fifth, Steele broke off the mound and as he backhanded Leody Taveras’ bunt he felt his left hamstring grab. He still managed to flip the ball to first base for the second out but immediately went down grabbing his hamstring and eventually walked off the field gingerly with Counsell and a trainer.

“It’s hard to tell right now since it’s so soon after it happened,” Steele said of the possible injury severity. “Spirits are high. It was good to get out there and get the first one under your belt — opening day, all the jitters and everything. I was definitely nervous today leading up to the outing so it was good to feel all those emotions and get back out there and get on the horse again and have a speedy recovery from this.”

The Cubs touted their pitching depth coming into the season and it is quickly being called on with Jameson Taillon already on the IL and Steele possibly joining him soon.

“This is a part of a baseball season, injuries are going to happen and you’ve got to rebound from them, you’ve got to recover from them,” Counsell said. “The next guy is going to fill in and then everybody else has got to pick up around him.

“First day of the season, it probably stings a little worse, but this is going to be part of our season and test us immediately.”

Counsell said the Cubs hadn’t discussed yet who would replace Steele. With the off days, the Cubs could opt to carry a reliever in the short term and then bring up a starter when they need another. Among their 40-man options at Triple-A Iowa: relievers Daniel Palencia and Keegan Thompson, and starters Hayden Wesneski and Ben Brown, who could also be used out of the ’pen.

The Cubs nearly stole a win on a heads-up play by Michael Busch as part of a controversial call in the ninth. Busch scored from second base on a wild pitch with two outs to put the Cubs ahead 3-2. Home plate umpire Chad Fairchild ruled Miles Mastrobuoni whiffed at José Leclerc’s 0-1 changeup. Video showed Mastrobuoni foul tipped it.

“I tried to follow the ball all the way and saw a separation between the catcher (Heim) and the ball and I saw him talking to the umpire and I didn’t know if it was a foul ball or not or what they call it,” Busch said. “The umpire wasn’t doing much so I just went for it.”

The last four weeks served as a dress rehearsal of sorts for Counsell.

After nine seasons in Milwaukee, he donned his new Cubs uniform each spring game and began appreciating “Go, Cubs, Go” after their exhibition wins at Sloan Park. But Thursday at Globe Life Field marked the official start of the Counsell era in Chicago, though there was no moment pregame when it all hit him.

“That’s just not me, that’s not how I’m wired,” Counsell said. “I love the game. I love trying to put it together. I love trying to help a group of guys win. This is our group of guys, man, and I’m fired up to go into a season with them and a journey with them.

“Sentimental feelings, I’m not good at them.”

Photos: Opening day for Chicago Cubs

The Cubs get a front-row seat to the Rangers’ World Series title hoopla before the first two games of the series. Texas unfurled its championship title banner in right field before Thursday’s opener and players will receive their rings during a ceremony before Saturday’s game.

Although the Cubs return most of their key contributors from a year ago, it feels like the organization is entering the next phase, one that should include more wins and more playoff appearances, even if external projections aren’t forecasting strong odds to win the division or reach the postseason this year. The Cubs aren’t worrying about outside perceptions.

“I don’t really care what the consensus is or what the prognosticators say we’re going to try to win the (National League) Central — we’re going to try to get to October,” Counsell said. “However we can do that, winning the Central is certainly a good way to do that.”

Counsell added with a laugh: “The division, I’ve felt this way for years, I don’t think anybody’s been right for years.”

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer remembers going out to dinner with Theo Epstein the night before the 2018 season opener and talking about how that year was an inflection point for their core group. The Cubs went on to win 95 games but lost 2-1 in 13 innings in the NL wild-card game against the Colorado Rockies.

“I don’t think that snuck up on us,” Hoyer said Thursday. “I think we realized it at the time. And I feel that way now, I feel like we’re at the front edge of something. I feel really good about where we are as an organization, but now it’s time to go play.”

There is a lot to like about how the Cubs have built this roster, which features a good mix of veterans, homegrown talent and upside in unproven players. Steele is coming off a career-best season but noted during spring training that the best big leaguers replicate those performances annually. The confidence that comes with an All-Star season can go a long way.

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“Confidence is one of the most important things when you’re facing the best in the world every day,” Ian Happ said Thursday. “And so for him, where his confidence is at, his belief in himself, his understanding of his pitch mix and how it plays, that’s something I’ve watched him learn over the last year and a half and really dive into it and have an appreciation for what he does really well.”

Counsell opted for defense at third base Thursday night by starting Nick Madrigal and using Christopher Morel as the designated hitter. He cited how Steele pitches and where balls in play against the lefty are hit to explain the decision. While matchups can influence the lineup, Counsell reiterated that Morel will play “a ton” at third base.

Madrigal cleanly handled the Rangers’ first ball in play, an Adolis García grounder to end the first inning, though couldn’t handle a 106 mph rocket off García’s bat in the fourth that advanced Josh Jung to third. It was ruled a single and helped the Rangers tie the game when Wyatt Langford, in his MLB debut, hit the sac fly.

Morel quickly showed why he will regularly be in the lineup even when he’s not playing third. He smoked a hanging curveball from Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi off the left-field wall for a leadoff triple in the second, a ball that would have been a home run in 17 ballparks according to Statcast, including Wrigley Field. Dansby Swanson drove in Morel on a deep flyout to center field to give the Cubs an early lead.

“That’s just trying to take advantage of that on specific days and we’re always going to try to do that,” Counsell said.