PITTSBURGH — Justin Steele’s start Thursday against the Pirates might have said more about him than an outing in which he actually was at his best.
“I love watching guys, when you feel like they may not have it, have it that day,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said after the Cubs’ 5-4 win in 10 innings. “Because there’s so many talented people in this game that when they have it, they can do it. And at times when his back’s against the wall, you can just see him continue to compete and just make it happen.”
Steele’s consistency this season has helped stabilize the Cubs’ rotation through rough patches and injuries. While the team monitors Marcus Stroman’s recovery at home in Tampa, Florida, from a fracture in his rib cartilage, the rotation is up against a new challenge.
Left-hander Drew Smyly was penciled in as the probable starter Sunday against the Pirates, but president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said he expects Smyly to pitch out of the bullpen.
Despite a strong first two months, the Cubs temporarily moved Smyly to the bullpen for two weeks this month as his ERA ballooned to 5.05. In three relief appearances, he allowed just three hits and didn’t surrender a run. But when Smyly returned to the rotation Tuesday, he gave up seven runs in 3⅔ innings.
“The stuff we’re seeing from a pitch-data perspective, velocity, they’re all trending in the right direction,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “He’s doing a lot of good things. Just getting back to attacking the strike zone and being aggressive I think changes a lot of stuff for him.”
The move appears to open an opportunity for left-handed prospect Jordan Wicks, although when asked, Hoyer said, “No comment.” Wicks has posted a 2.29 ERA in his last four Triple-A starts. He was a healthy scratch from his last scheduled outing for Iowa on Wednesday.
The Cubs also have rookie Hayden Wesneski, who began the season in the rotation but has since moved to the bullpen. He could be another option as the Cubs figure out their rotation down the stretch.
Steele, who already has surpassed his career high in major-league innings, is venturing into uncharted territory.
“This is the best I’ve seen him in terms of physicality, his shape, the work he puts in, his routine,” Hottovy said. “He’s locked in. He is locked in on everything he’s doing, so if there’s ever a time for him to push, it’s going to be now.”
Steele did just that Thursday.
“I didn’t feel like I had my sharpest stuff tonight,” he said. “But when your stuff is like that, you just want to go out there and give the team a good chance to win the ballgame.”
Steele allowed three runs, all in the first three innings, including a homer that Joshua Palacios sent into the Allegheny River. He kept adjusting, though, and grinded his way through six innings.
“That’s what we’re expecting him to do,” manager David Ross said. “He’s at that level now that he’s our horse. We’re gonna lean on him.”
That’s fine by Steele.
“I want to be the guy that we can rely on,” he said, “that goes out there and gives us good start after a good start.”
His start put the bullpen in good position even as the game stretched into extra innings.
“You trust him, he’s going to go out there and give you a quality start every time,” said Ian Happ, who had the game-deciding hit. “It’s a high expectation, but he’s met it.”
