Cubs Lose Justin Steele to Elbow Injury, Make Several Roster Moves

When it rains it really pours with this Chicago Cubs team. After an impressive winning streak, the team has fallen back to earth with two straight losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The loss of Justin Steele is just salt in the wound for the Cubs. After being scratched from his start Tuesday, the lefty is being placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow flexor tendinitis.

To make matters worse, the team is also losing a key member of the bullpen. Righty Jorge Lopez joins Steele with a right groin strain of his own. Things are certainly bleak for a team that's trying to resurrect their season.

Trey Wingenter will hope to make his mark in the final weeks of the season after being claimed off waivers in August . The righty has been solid for Triple-A Iowa . If he can carry it over to Chicago, it will be a big boost.

The Cubs will also be giving Jack Neely another look out of the bullpen. As injuries take their toll, guys like Neely will get every opportunity they can to produce at the big league level.

If there is no postseason in 2024, the team can see what they'll be working with in 2025 and beyond.

It remains to be seen if Justin Steele's season is over. While the postseason is still possible, it's also quite dim. The Cubs will have to reevaluate this week to decide just how to proceed with this development.

The wise thing to do is not rush the lefty, but rather call it on the 2024 season. It's going to be hard to sell that to a fanbase that has not seen postseason play since 2020.

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