WASHINGTON – The Cubs have gone to a youth movement and with many of the team’s veteran players now on other teams, there will be several opportunities for some lesser-known names to make an impact at the major-league level.
Left-hander Justin Steele is going to be one of the young players who will get the first crack at some of those chances. Steele has been getting stretched out to be a starter again at Triple-A Iowa after pitching in the Cubs’ bullpen earlier this season and has pitched well.
The young southpaw had a 0.89 ERA in six games (four starts) in July and was up to five innings and 75 pitches in his last start on Thursday. It sounds like Steele’s time is right around the corner.
“I would say he’s really close. I think [we’re] gonna see just where he slots in. But yeah, I’ve had those conversations and I would say he’s close,” manager David Ross said. “I can’t tell you whether he’s gonna start with us or [Iowa] next, but he’s definitely getting close. … He’s definitely on track to get here sooner rather than later.”
Heuer sees opportunity with Cubs
Right-hander Codi Heuer’s world has changed dramatically over the last 48 hours. Heuer went from a roster that is viewed as a World Series contender with the White Sox and is now part of a rebuild with the Cubs.
Heuer was part of the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox and wants to take advantage of his new opportunities on the North Side. The young right-hander made his Cubs debut in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Nationals, getting out of a bases-loaded, no outs jam.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way going into the fire with bases loaded,” Heuer said on Sunday. “Anytime I can help a guy get out of a jam and help the team win a game, it’s a good day.”
“There’s gonna be a lot of high leverage situations just like I’ve been doing in the past,” Heuer said. “I think the bullpen is gonna find a lot of their roles. So I think we’re gonna see how that goes here in the upcoming games.”
Heuer has elite stuff and with the Cubs sorting out their bullpen, he’s a natural fit for the team’s high-leverage situations, including some save opportunities.
“I feel like he’s probably our most dominant right-handed pitcher down there versus righties,” Ross said. “If we can slot him into the right spot at the back end, I don’t see why it’s not the ninth. But I’m not going to save him for just the closer role.”
