Cubs place ace Justin Steele on 15-day injured list, promote right-hander Ben Brown

(670 The Score) As expected, the Cubs placed ace Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list Saturday with what manager Craig Counsell called a grade-one left hamstring strain.

In a corresponding move, Chicago recalled right-hander Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa.

The expectation is that Steele will be out for all of April, Counsell told reporters Saturday afternoon. The team is unsure of his timeline beyond that, but Counsell sounded hopeful that Steele could return in May.

Steele suffered his injury while attempting to field a bunt in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Rangers in their season opener Thursday. Steele was coming off a terrific 2023 campaign, when he posted a 3.06 ERA in 30 starts.

The 24-year-old Brown will be counted on to fill key innings in some form or fashion with Steele out. For Saturday, he'll be available out of the bullpen, and he could be a starting option later. Brown impressed the Cubs in spring training, posting a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings of work in Cactus League action. Brown spent most of the 2023 season at Triple-A Iowa, where he posted a 5.70 ERA in 72 2/3 innings, over which he struck out 100 batters but walked 51.

The Phillies selected Brown in the 33rd round of the 2017 MLB Draft. The Cubs acquired him in August 2022 in exchange for reliever David Robertson.