ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Justin Steele #35 of the Chicago Cubs leaves the field after an injury during the fifth inning of the Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776098042
Stacy Revere/Getty
ARLINGTON, Texas — What was shaping up to be a defining start in Cubs left-hander Justin Steele’s career ended with him lying on his back, clutching his left hamstring.
Steele exited the Cubs’ 4-3 loss in 10 innings Thursday to the Rangers on Opening Day with what manager Craig Counsell called a left hamstring strain after a bunt in the fifth inning. Steele is scheduled for an MRI exam Friday, but Counsell said he likely will land on the injured list.
“He’s pitching really, really well,” Counsell said. “Obviously an important member of the team. It looks like we’re going to miss him for a little bit here.”
Steele had held the Rangers to one run through the first four innings. Then with a runner on first and one out in the fifth and the game tied 1-1, the Rangers’ Leody Taveras put down a bunt up the first-base line.
Steele chased after it, fielding the ball and flipping it to first base for the out. But as Steele made the play, he stumbled and rolled into foul territory. Immediately, he grabbed his left hamstring. Steele walked off the field with head athletic trainer Nick Frangella.
“When I was leaning over and backhanding the ball, just kind of felt something grab,” Steele said. “So just went down with it and didn’t want to do anything to risk further injury.”
The timeline of Steele’s recovery was not immediately clear. Counsell said the Cubs hadn’t yet discussed who would fill in for Steele while he is out.
The Cubs have starting depth in the bullpen, where lefty Drew Smyly began the season, and in Triple-A, where Hayden Wesneski was optioned late in spring training. But the rotation is already without right-hander Jameson Taillon (strained lower back).
“You’re going to have things like this happen during the season,” Counsell said. “First day of the season, it probably stings a little worse. But this is going to be part of our season, and it’s testing us immediately.”
Steele said he was nervous leading up to his first Opening Day start. But he didn’t show it on the mound.
“It was good to feel all those emotions and get back out there, get on the horse again,” Steele said, “and have a speedy recovery from this and get right back out there.”
The first pitch Steele threw was a strike, a fastball at the top of the strike zone that Rangers leadoff hitter Marcus Semien fouled off. Steele fell behind 3-2, but he came back with two sliders. The first, Semien watched for a strike. The second, he swung at and missed.
Steele was similarly dominant through the first three innings, holding the Rangers hitless. The Cubs took the lead on a second-inning sacrifice fly by Dansby Swanson.
“It was typical Justin Steele,” Counsell said. “They were super-aggressive swinging, but he was still getting a ton of swing-and-miss, which is really impressive against a very good offensive team.”
The Rangers finally ended their hitless streak in the fourth inning. Josh Jung won an eight-pitch battle against Steele, lining a double into right-center field. Adolis Garcia, the next batter, hit the ball sharply at third baseman Nick Madrigal, who couldn’t quite handle what was ruled a single.
With runners on the corners, Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford hit a game-tying sacrifice fly. Then Steele recovered to strike out Jonah Heim on four pitches, ending the inning.
After giving up a leadoff double to Ezequiel Duran in the fifth inning, then inducing Evan Carter to ground into a fielder’s choice, Steele had thrown 66 pitches.
The next pitch he threw, Taveras bunted. And that play spelled the end of Steele’s night. The Cubs would go on to lose the game on a walk-off single by Heim in the 10th inning.