Steele allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out nine over 7.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Monday.
The downside to Steele's outing was that two of the hits on his line were solo home runs from Matt Chapman and Nick Ahmed. The southpaw hadn't given up a homer in any of his last five starts, and the Giants were able to continue their comeback push against the Cubs' bullpen to deny Steele his first win of the year. Despite the lack of positive results, he's logged five quality starts in 11 outings with a 3.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 65:16 K:BB over 64.1 innings. Steele is projected for a tough road matchup at Milwaukee this weekend.
Steele did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out eight.
The Chicago southpaw posted his third straight quality start as he generated 14 whiffs en route to eight punchouts, tying the season high he'd set May 27 against Milwaukee. The Giants managed to collect both runs against Steele on a fifth-inning double yielded to Curt Casali. Although Steele is still searching for his first win, he's been a dependable arm with a 3.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB over 57 innings this season. He's scheduled make his next start against the Giants again, but in San Francisco.
Cubs' Justin Steele: Throws six scoreless in no-decision
Rotowire
Steele did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings.
Steele cruised through five innings then ran into some trouble in the sixth, but he escaped a bases-loaded jam and departed with a 2-0 lead at 93 total pitches. Steele earned his third quality start in his past four outings, but he is still winless on the season after the bullpen allowed three runs. Despite the tough luck, Steele's 3.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through nine starts are actually lower than his ratios last season, when he finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting. He will try to earn his first win against the Giants next Tuesday.
