Justin Steele
28-Year-Old
Out
Injury Hamstring
Est. Return 4/15/2024
2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
1.93
WHIP
0.86
K
6
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was a lot to like with Steele coming into the 2023 season as a pitcher who kept the ball in the yard, threw a lot of strikes and generated a fair number of whiffs. Our 2023 outlook even said he could be in store for a nice fantasy season, but who saw him doubling his career win total and continuing the positive peripheral growth for a third consecutive season? If not for Blake Snell's amazing run or all of Spencer Strider's strikeouts and wins, Steele could have garnered more supporters for a Cy Young argument with the season he had. So what if he does not have the velocity of other pitchers when he can match results with the best of them? The amazing part is he does this using two pitches 97% of the time, which does leave him exposed to the third-time-through penalty. He may never be a 200-inning arm, but Steele is a pitcher on the rise approaching frontline status. Read Past Outlooks
Headed for IL
Steele was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain Thursday and will be placed on the injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Steele suffered the injury in Thursday's season opener against the Rangers as he attempted to field a bunt. Manager Craig Counsell didn't commit to a minimum 15-day stint for Steele, but a clearer timeline should emerge after he undergoes an MRI on Friday. With Jameson Taillon (back) also sidelined, the Cubs rotation is shorthanded. Drew Smyly is a candidate to shift from a relief to starting role as a result.
Steele suffered the injury in Thursday's season opener against the Rangers as he attempted to field a bunt. Manager Craig Counsell didn't commit to a minimum 15-day stint for Steele, but a clearer timeline should emerge after he undergoes an MRI on Friday. With Jameson Taillon (back) also sidelined, the Cubs rotation is shorthanded. Drew Smyly is a candidate to shift from a relief to starting role as a result.
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
67
Last 10 Games
67
Last 5 Games
67
How many pitches does Justin Steele generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Justin Steele generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
Even Split
2024
-100%
BAA vs LHP
BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .248 | 77 | 22 | 58 | 7 | |||
Since 2022vs Right | .248 | 231 | 65 | 223 | 15 | |||
2024vs Left | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2024vs Right | .273 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||
2023vs Left | .267 | 42 | 8 | 35 | 6 | |||
2023vs Right | .247 | 134 | 28 | 132 | 8 | |||
2022vs Left | .232 | 34 | 14 | 23 | 1 | |||
2022vs Right | .248 | 92 | 36 | 88 | 7 | |||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-26%
ERA at Home
2024
-100%
ERA at Home
ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | 2.70 | 1.22 | 173.1 | 9.1 | 2.5 | ||||
Since 2022Away | 3.64 | 1.27 | 123.2 | 9.7 | 2.8 | ||||
2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2024Away | 1.93 | 0.86 | 4.2 | 11.6 | 1.9 | ||||
2023Home | 2.65 | 1.19 | 102.0 | 9.3 | 1.9 | ||||
2023Away | 3.66 | 1.15 | 71.1 | 9.0 | 1.9 | ||||
2022Home | 2.78 | 1.26 | 71.1 | 8.8 | 3.5 | ||||
2022Away | 3.78 | 1.49 | 47.2 | 10.6 | 4.2 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Justin Steele compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
4.89K/9
9.1BB/9
1.9HR/9
0.7Fastball
91.8 mphERA
3.06WHIP
1.17BABIP
.328GB/FB
1.94Left On Base
72.0%Exit Velocity
81.5 mphBarrels/BBE
4.0%Spin Rate
2471 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
23.7%Swinging Strike
11.6%Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Justin Steele See More
A college baseball parlay is the main focus of John Venezia's best college baseball picks today. In celebration of MLB Opening Day, Venezia adds a trio of MLB player props as well.
MLB picks for each division plus playoff bets and a World Series prediction are John Venezia's focus in this final look at 2024 MLB Futures. Can the Reds deliver on their potential?
Even with a tough matchup against the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park on Opening Day, Spencer Strider takes the top spot in the first Weekly Pitcher Rankings of the year.
Jeff Stotts kicks off the season with his first injury report, featuring Kyle Bradish, who will start the year on the IL after being diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Earning 2022 rotation spot?
Steele pitched seven scoreless innings in a win Thursday and could be solidifying his spot in next season's rotation.
ANALYSIS
The Cubs have plenty of question marks behind ace Kyle Hendricks, and Steele has flashed some potential, though he's also had his share of rough outings. The lefty at least should have a chance at earning a rotation spot heading into next season depending on what the team does in free agency.
The Cubs have plenty of question marks behind ace Kyle Hendricks, and Steele has flashed some potential, though he's also had his share of rough outings. The lefty at least should have a chance at earning a rotation spot heading into next season depending on what the team does in free agency.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2016
Steele took a big step forward in 2022 and could be emerging as a staple of Chicago's rotation in the coming years. The lefty made 24 starts and posted a 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 119 innings. That ERA was supported by a 3.20 FIP, so Steele's production seems sustainable. His last appearance came in late August, however, as a back issue flared up and the Cubs decided not to push him when they had little to play for. That will probably benefit Steele heading into 2023, as he should be healthy to begin the season. Marcus Stroman should continue to lead the rotation followed by Hendricks, though the latter is dealing with a shoulder injury over the offseason. That leaves Steele as the No. 3 starter with the potential to move up. As a southpaw who can miss bats, Steele could be in store for a nice fantasy season, particularly if he can build on his career-best workload from 2022.
More Fantasy News
Removed due to tightness
Steele was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers due to tightness in his left hamstring, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Suffers apparent hamstring injury
Steele exited Thursday's game against the Rangers with an apparent injury to his left hamstring, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
In clear for Opening Day
Steele (knee) declared himself ready to start Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers in Arlington after he threw a bullpen session Monday without incident, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Remains in line for Opening Day
Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Steele (knee) is still scheduled to start for the Cubs on Opening Day against Texas, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Has bruised knee
Steele suffered a left knee contusion during Friday's Cactus League game against the Giants, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.