Elbow Soreness Sidelines Cubs' Justin Steele; Kyle Hendricks to Pitch Tuesday

In a recent development that has left Chicago Cubs fans on edge, starting pitcher Justin Steele will not be taking the mound for his scheduled start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed the news, citing elbow soreness as the reason for Steele being scratched. With pivotal games ahead, Steele's health status casts a shadow over the Cubs' playoff ambitions.

Steele has been enjoying a promising season, boasting a 5-5 record with a commendable 3.09 ERA. His performance, which includes 131 strikeouts over 128 innings, positioned him as a linchpin in the Cubs' starting rotation. The pitcher's recent form, with back-to-back wins and 16 strikeouts over his last two starts, only highlighted his significance to the team's recent playoff push.

In Steele's absence, Kyle Hendricks has been announced as the next man up to face the Pirates. Hendricks, aiming to bounce back from his recent struggles, finds an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate resilience and play a key role in keeping the Cubs' playoff aspirations alive in an important divisional matchup. The veteran starter was roughed up just last week by Pittsburgh, giving up six runs over just 1.2 innings of work.

What's On Tap Next for the Chicago Cubs

Tuesday night's matchup at Wrigley Field also brings an intriguing subplot: Cubs hitters will again face Pirates rookie pitching sensation Paul Skenes. With a 2.23 ERA and an impressive 8-2 record, Skenes poses a formidable challenge for the Cubs, who are desperately seeking to narrow the gap in the wild-card standings.

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