Cubs left-hander Justin Steele is set to return from the 15-day injured list Wednesday to start in the series finale against the A’s, manager Craig Counsell revealed Tuesday.
Steele (left elbow tendinitis) had been trending in that direction since coming out of a high-intensity 40-pitch bullpen Saturday in Colorado feeling healthy. But the Cubs waited to announce his return date until after his light “touch and feel” bullpen session Monday went smoothly.
Steele’s IL stint will have gone just two days past the minimum allowed. His recovery timeline fell in the best-case-scenario range.
Counsell said Steele’s return will simply push back the rest of the Cubs’ starters a day, giving the team a six-man rotation for at least one turn.